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Tag: Privacy

Apple’s new device fingerprinting rules send clear privacy message to developers

Written by STEP Software on . Posted in Blog. No Comments on Apple’s new device fingerprinting rules send clear privacy message to developers

NOT A ONE-TIME CHANGE Apple is no stranger to the privacy game, as this move is only the latest in a series of policy updates designed to strengthen data access and usage policies across its platforms and devices. The most significant of these changes was the introduction of App Tracking Transparency in iOS 14.5 in 2021. That update required apps to request end-user permission to track activity across other apps and websites. Opting in allowed developers to use Apple’s IDFA identifier to share activity with third party data brokers and marketing agencies. Opting out...

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Threads privacy policies reveal need for better development best practices

Written by STEP Software on . Posted in Blog, StringN. No Comments on Threads privacy policies reveal need for better development best practices

HUNGRY, HUNGRY HIPPO Now that the first few heady weeks of Threads’ existence are giving way to the cold, harsh reality of long-term use, we’re beginning to get a better look at what lies underneath. And what we’re seeing – at least from the perspective of end-user privacy – merits additional discussion, because Threads collects significantly more data than competing apps in the microblogging space. While apps like Twitter, Mastodon, Hive Social, and Bluesky all have their own privacy policies, all of them are far less aggressive in their data collection.  It’s...

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TikTok bans are a long overdue wakeup call for mobile security

Written by STEP Software on . Posted in Blog. No Comments on TikTok bans are a long overdue wakeup call for mobile security

A GATHERING STORM The Canadian move echoes similar moves in recent weeks by the U.S. government, the European Union, and at least half of all American states. It falls short of a full-on national ban, however such legislation has been proposed in the U.S. Nevertheless, this marks a serious foreign policy rebuke from Canada to China. The growing global turbulence around TikTok reinforces the disparity between its populist perception as a non-threatening app, and accusations that it represents a major security threat on a personal, organizational, and national level....

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Privacy Concerns: New Technology to Grade Meetings Through Surveillance of Attendees

Written by STEP Software on . Posted in Blog. No Comments on Privacy Concerns: New Technology to Grade Meetings Through Surveillance of Attendees

HOW IT WORKS Using sensors, cameras, and software algorithms, Microsoft’s “Meeting Insight Computing System” (MICS) will collect data on each meeting participant’s body language, expressions, and participation level. MICS will also track how much time attendees spend on activities that are not meeting-related, such as texting or reading email. For remote meeting participants, MICS factors in whether or not they activate their cameras. The system will also take environmental factors into consideration, including the temperature and level of noise in a meeting room....

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