Most companies judge their success based on how high they can rank on a Google search. But not everyone wants to be found by search engines. (Think members-only sites like Gilt Groupe. Or individuals who actually value their privacy.)
Confidentiality crusaders, rejoice. A small crop of companies makes a business out of helping you hide. File-sharing service Drop.io, for one, stores personal information on web pages that don't turn up on search engines. Users create web pages called "drops" that they can selectively distribute. Drop.io's technology is based on a theory called "casual privacy," which is a bit like leaving your house key under the doormat. The key is safe because only you and friends know to look for it there. Drop.io ensures that the content of its drops isn't tagged, so Google's crawlers can't find it.
The tool is catching on with businesses. MTV Networks International's PR department uses Drop.io to share news releases. The documents are somewhere out thee on the web, but they're un-Google-able.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
HOW WEB SEARCHES CAN DESTROY YOUR PRIVACY
How Web Searches Can Destroy Your Privacy
When you search for information online, you're not the only one who learns something. Microsoft retains data identifying your search--including the words and sites you searched for, and the time and date--for 18 months. Google keeps this data for nine months. In response to pressure from privacy advocates, Yahoo recently dropped its data-retention time to 90 days.
Because searches can be traced to you by name through your computer's IP address (the unique identifying number assigned to all computers to access the Web), Internet search companies have a detailed profile of your personal interests and tastes. Experts worry that this private data could be misused.
In 2006, America Online (AOL) shared the search records of 658,000 users with academics for research purposes. Even though AOL tried to protect the identities of its users, some data were able to be linked back to specific individuals.
"What if every phone conversation you had was recorded and used to make decisions about you?" asks Paul Stephens of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a consumer-advocacy organization. "Your searches may provide information that's just as personal, such as illnesses you are researching."
"Consumers have no control over how their most intimate data are used," says Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center. Currently, there are no comprehensive laws that provide privacy protection for data submitted to search engines. Should search data be private?
When you search for information online, you're not the only one who learns something. Microsoft retains data identifying your search--including the words and sites you searched for, and the time and date--for 18 months. Google keeps this data for nine months. In response to pressure from privacy advocates, Yahoo recently dropped its data-retention time to 90 days.
Because searches can be traced to you by name through your computer's IP address (the unique identifying number assigned to all computers to access the Web), Internet search companies have a detailed profile of your personal interests and tastes. Experts worry that this private data could be misused.
In 2006, America Online (AOL) shared the search records of 658,000 users with academics for research purposes. Even though AOL tried to protect the identities of its users, some data were able to be linked back to specific individuals.
"What if every phone conversation you had was recorded and used to make decisions about you?" asks Paul Stephens of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a consumer-advocacy organization. "Your searches may provide information that's just as personal, such as illnesses you are researching."
"Consumers have no control over how their most intimate data are used," says Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center. Currently, there are no comprehensive laws that provide privacy protection for data submitted to search engines. Should search data be private?
Monday, February 2, 2009
LEAVE VOICEMAIL WITHOUT THEM PICKING UP
Slydial allows you to leave someone a message on his/hercell phone without talking directly to him. Just call 267-sly-dial (267-759-3425), listen to an ad and enter the cell-phone number you want to call.
You will be automatically connected to the person's voice mail. Slydial's phone number is a Pennsylvania number, so you will be charged for a call to Pennsylvania. If you would rather not listen to an ad, you can pay $4.95 a month, or $29.95 a year, for premium service.
www.slydial.com
You will be automatically connected to the person's voice mail. Slydial's phone number is a Pennsylvania number, so you will be charged for a call to Pennsylvania. If you would rather not listen to an ad, you can pay $4.95 a month, or $29.95 a year, for premium service.
www.slydial.com
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