Privacy

Consumer Watchdog Says Google+ Circles Admit Just Anyone, Friend Or Not

January 9, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>But it also thanks Google for taking steps against online predators</b></p> <p>Fairly or not, people often judge you by the company you keep. And the nonprofit group Consumer Watchdog says this can cause huge problems for people with Google+ accounts, who might not be able to control who does or does not associate with their virtual online personae.</p>

Opening the Privacy Files

January 3, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>SACRAMENTO — For privacy advocates, these are heady days.</p> <p>European leaders are weighing tough new online data protection rules—and costly penalties for violators—for their 500 million residents. The courts and Congress have placed a bullseye on U.S. National Security Agency surveillance programs. Even dictionary.com declared "privacy" the word of 2013 because this "was the year that the desire to be seen and heard was turned on its head."</p> <p>Then, of course, there is Edward Snowden.</p>

Chase Cards Limited After Target Breach

December 22, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>2M customers face lower purchasing, ATM allowances</strong></p>

Study Finds Google+ Is A Playground For Online Predators

December 20, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Google has to police Google+ as online predators and explicit sexual content continue to mar its reputation, urges a tech industry whistleblower based on the findings of his seven-month study of the social network.</p>

Google’s For-Profit Surveillance Problem

December 16, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<blockquote> <p>“We know where you are. We know where you’ve been. We can more or less know what you’re thinking about.”</p> <p>“Your digital identity will live forever… because there’s no delete button.”</p> <p style="text-align:right;"><strong>—Eric Schmidt</strong></p>

Google+: A Playground for Online Predators

December 15, 2013  ·  John M. Simpson

From March to September 2013, an investigation was undertaken to detail the significant privacy issues Google+ users may encounter when using the service. The evidence...

NASA Audit Says Google Execs Saved Millions With Jet Fuel Discount

December 11, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>SAN FRANCISCO -- Google executives got a steep discount on jet fuel from the federal government for their fleet of private aircraft over a six-year period, a new <a href="http://oig.nasa.gov/Special-Review/NASA_H211.pdf">audit</a> from the <a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/science-technology/space-programs/nasa-ORGOV000098.topic" id="ORGOV000098" title="NASA">NASA</a> inspector general says.</p>

NASA: Google Co-Founders Got An Improper Discount On Jet Fuel

December 11, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="bodytext"><span id="mn_Global"><span id="MNGiSection">MOUNTAIN VIEW -- <a href="http://www.siliconvalley.com/topics?Google%20Inc.">Google's</a> (<a href="http://markets.financialcontent.com/mng-ba.siliconvalley/quote?Symbol=GOOG">GOOG</a>) cofounders got an improper subsidy worth $3.3 million to $5.3 million when their private aircraft company was allowed to buy jet fuel at discounted rates from a federal agency at Moffett Field, according to a report issued Wednesday by NASA's Inspector General.</span></span></p>

Google Executives’ Planes Saved Millions In Costs Due To Error – NASA

December 11, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><span id="articleText"><span class="focusParagraph">(Reuters) - The company that manages a fleet of airplanes owned and leased by <span class="mandelbrot_refrag"><a class="mandelbrot_refrag" data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=GOOG.O&lc=int_mb_1001">Google</a></span> Inc executives Larry Page, Sergey Brin and Eric Schmidt improperly bought fuel from the government at below-market rates, for a savings of up to $5.3 million according to a report released by the NASA Inspector General on Wednesday.</span></span></p>

NASA Audit Finds Google Execs Saved On Jet Fuel

December 11, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — An aircraft fleet owned by Google's founders and former CEO received improper discounts on jet fuel that saved the three billionaires up to $5.3 million dating back to depths of the Great Recession in 2009, according to a government report released Wednesday.</p> <p>The findings by NASA's inspector general surfaced during a review of a government airfield lease for seven planes and two helicopters controlled by Google's founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, and the Internet search company's former CEO, Eric Schmidt.</p>

Outlet Malls Aren’t What They Used To Be

December 8, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>When you buy something at an outlet mall, do you know what you’re getting?</p> <p>If you think it’s a top-quality, brand-name product at a deep discount, think again.</p> <p>Ten years ago, that may have been true. But most brands now sell lesser-quality merchandise made just for their outlets.</p> <p>Whether you’re still getting a good deal depends on whom you ask.</p>

Consumer Watchdog: Deceptive Google Shopping Results?

December 5, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>The first price isn't the best price when you search online</b></p> <p>There’s a common saying about social media and other Internet companies: “If you’re not paying them anything, you’re not their customer; you’re what they’re selling.”</p> <p>So if you use web-based email or Facebook or Google or other free sites — you pay nothing to use them, so how do these companies make money?  Through advertising, of course, and media companies that sell advertising space are basically selling an audience of potential buyers.</p>