Photo forensics: Identifying faked pictures

Recently a family member sent me a set of pictures supposedly showing Mexican headstones with insulting epitaphs

By M. E. Kabay | 03 June, 2010 08:49

Tags: security, digital forensics

The privacy policy problem, Part 4: Reality hits home

In the last three columns, I’ve been looking at the complexities of protecting client or prospect privacy (personally identifiable information or PII) in an interconnected world.

By M. E. Kabay | 02 October, 2008 12:40

Tags: privacy

The privacy policy problem, Part 3: Opting out of opting out

In my most recent two columns, I've been discussing privacy policies. Today I want to look at some of the issues that can occur when you work with other organizations whose policies may differ from yours.

By M. E. Kabay | 23 September, 2008 10:56

Tags: privacy

How not to manage lost passwords

Dear Bob

The privacy policy problem, Part 2: Controlling business partners

In this series of four articles, I'm exploring privacy policies. Today I'll continue with an analysis of potential problems due to independent partner organizations working on behalf of their clients without adequate supervision and coordination.

The privacy policy problem, Part 1: A model policy

Many organizations strive to protect the confidentiality of prospects and clients. In this column and the next three, I want to explore issues relating to privacy policies and the sometimes problematic relations between legitimate, well-meaning institutions and the commercial organizations with which they do business - and the criminal organizations which abuse their good names and reputations.

Your printer: An open door for hackers?

In 2003, a staff member at the Public Health Laboratory of the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care of the Province of Ontario in Canada tried to send a fax to a doctor's office. (By the way, for U.S. readers, Canada is the large blank pink region north of the border on your maps and which, contrary to popular belief, actually includes people as well as moose and beavers.) Alas, the clerk mistyped a 5 as an 8 in the fax number and inadvertently sent medical records to a local gasoline station. The owner very kindly gave the fax to a doctor who was a regular customer and the doctor reported the breach of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act .