Is your browser spying on you?
2014 Feb Newsmonth
Recent reports published in the online tech media indicate popular browser extensions found in Chrome and Firefox have been found to contain spyware, malware and adware. A browser extension is a computer program that extends the functionality of a web browser in some way.
This means your favourite browser extension may now be compiling statistics on your internet surfing habits. Which website you visit, how often and when is included in this data capture. Chief among the cyber spy threats include Hover Zoom (which has been downloaded millions of times), Eat My Cookies, an unofficial BBC app called News Reader, Autocopy and Bookmark Sentry.
The use of hidden adware in online software is not new, but its appearance in popular, free browser extensions does mean that caution should be exercised when downloading extensions. Extensions can now be targeted to insert ads without warning. Always check the fine print on the extension homepage. And if in doubt, Google the extension before you add it. Chances are, others will have already written about their experiences.
Spyware works its tentacles into your life by gathering information about you without your knowledge. Browser extensions, which start off free and gain popular momentum, are easily corrupted by big corporations keen to buy access to a treasure trove of demographic data.
As teachers, your browsing habits are big business in the online world. Do you feel comfortable letting others know your personal web usage? Would you care if a third party sold your personal data?
Privacy policies are little help either; when you download the extension, you may be agreeing (without your knowledge) to any hidden tracking code contained in the software. While this may not concern you now, it is worth paying attention given what we’ve learnt about the surveillance society we live in.
The protection of individual online privacy is less about the ads big business may want to sell us today and more about the tools of the future, keeping tabs on our every move.
Details: www.howtogeek.com/180175/warning-your-browser-extensions-are-spying-on-you/
To download or not to download
To download or not to download, that is the question. Last month, Bell Shakespeare released an Aussie app called ‘Starting Shakespeare’, designed to appeal to Years 5 and 6 and provide students with a wealth of educational knowledge on the wonderful world of William Shakespeare. The App has already won the highly ranked honour of being the ‘Best New App Feature’ in the Australian and US Apple App stores.
Students are encouraged to learn about Shakespeare through two of his most iconic plays: A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth. Students can create their own spells, as they toil and boil their way to learning about the Bard in a unique, interactive format. The app retails for a little over $5, and could be a handy download for primary school teachers.
Details: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/starting-shakespeare/id763440089?mt=8
Your favourite password might be your worst password
Do you have a favourite password you like to use? And do you often use that password to access every site you visit? Oh dear, you may need some password revision.
A list of 2013's worst passwords has been compiled by an online security firm with the hope of educating people on password etiquette.
App maker SplashData analysed a hefty chunk of stolen passwords to declare which passwords were most likely to be easily hacked or forged. The chief offenders among the list include the classic ‘123456’. Old favourites such as ‹password›, ‘qwerty’ and ‘abc123’ continue be used by many and a few strange ones such as ‘iloveyou’ and ‘trustno1’ appear on the list.
Security experts are keen to point out that a password with up to 16 characters is the surest bet to thwarting hackers. A mix of numerical, punctuation and upper and lower case is also prudent. The easier way to create a long and difficult password is with a simply memory trick: take each letter of the first word in a sentence and put them together. Then add a number or two and some punctuation characters. For instance, 'She sells sea shells by the sea shore'; is also known as 'SSSSBTSS'. With numbers and punctuation and lower case/upper case characters, you could end up with sSSSbTSs21..!
That's an obviously complex example, but you get the point. Take care with your passwords and update them regularly. Do not use the same password on every site you log in to. That is just asking for trouble if a hacker comprises the data of one site, and uses that to access all the others.