ScienceDaily: Privacy Issues News

Smoking in the entrances to bars increases the presence of nicotine inside

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 08:22:22 EDT

The protection provided by the smoking ban decreases when people can still smoke outside the venue. For the first time, a study has analyzed the effects of the modification to the Spanish tobacco control law, implemented in 2011 in hospitality venues in Spain. The findings show that smoking on terraces and in the entrances to bars and restaurants increases the concentration of nicotine and particulate matter, which affects clients and hospitality professionals alike.

Network of cameras used to track people in complex indoor settings

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:31:31 EDT

Researchers have developed a method for tracking the locations of multiple individuals in complex, indoor settings using a network of video cameras, creating something similar to the fictional Marauder's Map used by Harry Potter to track comings and goings at the Hogwarts School. The method was able to automatically follow the movements of 13 people within a nursing home, even though individuals sometimes slipped out of view of the cameras.

Cloud computing user privacy in serious need of reform, scholars say

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 15:44:44 EDT

The current "non-negotiable approach" to user privacy is in need of serious revision, especially with the increased popularity of web-based software that shares information via cloud computing, experts say.

Effective privacy protection in social networks

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 08:42:42 EDT

Researchers are working on new methods to help them gain a better understanding of the usage habits of participants in social networks. The results will be incorporated in the development of userfriendly tools for privacy protection.

Companies pay almost $6,000 extra per year for each employee who smokes

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 19:29:29 EDT

A new study suggests that U.S. businesses pay almost $6,000 per year extra for each employee who smokes compared to the cost to employ a person who has never smoked cigarettes. Researchers say it's the first study to take a comprehensive look at the financial burden for companies employing smokers.

Increased incomes from music streaming

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 09:23:23 EDT

The issue of intellectual property rights in the music industry remains a hot topic, and the debate seems to intensify every time technological advances are made. New research shows that the total incomes of music composers have increased significantly in the last 15 years, despite the file sharing revolution.

When friends create enemies: Facebook's mutual-friends feature may create security risks, privacy concerns

Thu, 30 May 2013 13:24:24 EDT

Often revered for bringing people together, the mutual-friends feature on Facebook actually creates myriad security risks and privacy concerns according to a new study.

The US shale-gas revolution and European renewables: Divergence and cooperation in alternative energy

Wed, 29 May 2013 10:15:15 EDT

That the United States and Europe have been following different energy policies over the past few decades won’t come as a surprise. However, according to one researcher, their divergence – with the US leading ‘the shale gas revolution’ and Europe investing heavily in modern renewables – is a good thing for the development of both alternative-energy sources.

Tobacco companies are not public health stakeholders, experts conclude

Tue, 28 May 2013 18:10:10 EDT

When assessing information presented by the tobacco industry, the US regulator, the Food and Drug Administration and regulatory bodies in other countries, should be aware that they are dealing with companies with a long history of intentionally misleading the public. They therefore should actively protect their public-health policies on smoking from the commercial interests of the tobacco industry and not consider the industry as a stakeholder, concludes a study by experts from the U.S. and Germany.

Facial-recognition technology proves its mettle

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:25:25 EDT

In a study that evaluated some of the latest in automatic facial recognition technology, researchers were able to quickly identify one of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects from law enforcement video, an experiment that demonstrated the value of such technology.

Big Data, for better or worse: 90% of world's data generated over last two years

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:52:52 EDT

A full 90 percent of all the data in the world has been generated over the last two years. Internet-based companies are awash with data that can be grouped and utilized. Is this a good thing?

Collecting DNA for human rights: How to help while safeguarding privacy

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:50:50 EDT

DNA databases might help identify victims of crime and human trafficking, but how do we safeguard the personal privacy of innocent victims and family members? A new report identifies a number of key challenges to consider as experts develop such programs.

Benefit vs. risk of facial recognition technology

Wed, 08 May 2013 21:32:32 EDT

Law enforcement agencies are using facial recognition software as a crime-fighting tool. Now businesses are looking to use the technology to reach customers. But a professor questions whether customers are ready for it.

Cyberthreats must require governments and businesses to be 'cyberrisk intelligent'

Thu, 02 May 2013 14:26:26 EDT

In an age where cybersecurity is of foremost interest for governments and businesses, public and private organizations must deploy risk-intelligence governance to secure their digital communications and resources from eavesdropping, theft or attack, according to a new article.

Protecting hospitals from 'new' terrorist threats

Thu, 02 May 2013 10:45:45 EDT

Health care facilities play a vital role in the UK’s terrorism contingency plans, but a new study provides a timely warning to managers, regulatory bodies and government that crucial services such as hospitals are also potential targets for malevolent actions.

Global networks must be redesigned, experts urge

Wed, 01 May 2013 13:19:19 EDT

The increasing interdependencies between the world's technological, socio-economic, and environmental systems have the potential to create global catastrophic risks. We may have to redesign global networks,or else they could turn into "global time bombs," experts say.

Shifting the burden of recycling

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:15:15 EDT

Over the past two decades governments around the world have been experimenting with a new strategy for managing waste. By making producers responsible for their products when they become wastes, policy makers seek to significantly increase the recycling -- and recyclability -- of computers, packaging, automobiles, and household hazardous wastes such as batteries, used oil motor, and leftover paint -- and save money in the process.

Why people quit and come back to Facebook

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:59:59 EDT

With more than a billion active accounts worldwide, it can be easy to forget that some people don’t use Facebook. A new study suggests that “non-use” of the social networking site is fairly common – a quarter of Facebook users take breaks from the site by deactivating their account, and one in 10 completely quit.

'Sequential' pricing can increase retail profits

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:14:14 EDT

An in-depth study of so-called “sequential” pricing of retail products in both online and “bricks-and-mortar” stores found that the ability to set prices based on real-time knowledge of customer preferences and purchase intentions can increase profits in some specific circumstances.

Teenage password security: Risk of identity theft

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:13:13 EDT

Many of us are sharing increasing amounts of personal information through online social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and others. However, according to researchers, many of us are side-stepping apparently laborious security measures and putting our data at risk of being hijacked and used in identity theft and other fraud.

High-volume Bitcoin exchanges less likely to fail, but more likely breached, says study

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:11:11 EDT

Online exchanges that trade hard currency for the cyber money Bitcoin have a 45 percent chance of failing -- often taking customer money with them. A new empirical study into the closure of Bitcoin currency exchanges found that exchanges that buy and sell a high volume of Bitcoins are less likely to shut down but more likely to suffer security breaches.

Anatomy of a blast: Researchers develop sensor system to assess the effects of explosions on soldiers

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:21:21 EDT

To study the effects of improvised explosive devices on soldiers and help provide continuing treatment, researchers have developed a sensor system that measures the physical environment of an explosion and collects data that can correlate what the soldier experienced with long-term outcomes.

Should doctors be involved in the concealed-weapons permit process?

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:55:55 EDT

Experts have discussed the medical, ethical, and legal concerns about physician involvement in concealed weapons permits. They argue that standards, protocols and new policies are needed for physicians to adequately assess a patient’s physical or mental competency in concealed-weapons permitting.

College admission questions rarely identify criminal behavior

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:54:54 EDT

A new study shows that neither criminal background checks nor pre-admission screening questions accurately predict students likely to commit crime on college campuses.

Sharing individual health information could improve care and reduce costs for all

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:24:24 EDT

Information collected from individual patients at doctor's office and hospital visits could be used to improve health care and reduce costs on a national scale, according to a new article.

Twelve principles for effective contraceptive counseling

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:48:48 EDT

New research has led experts to suggest 12 evidence-based principles that can be used to improve contraceptive counseling of adolescents in US health care clinics, doctor's offices, and health service organizations.

Is there a future for a privacy-friendly Internet?

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 19:46:46 EDT

A privacy-friendly Internet might be possible in the future according to an academic.

Doctors urged to 'pause before posting' and not 'friend' patients

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:23:23 EDT

New recommendations offer physicians ethical guidance for preserving trust in patient-physician relationships and the profession when using social media.

Diversity programs give illusion of corporate fairness, psychologists find

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 12:19:19 EDT

Diversity training programs lead people to believe that work environments are fair even when given evidence of hiring, promotion or salary inequities, according to new findings by psychologists.

Choosing less a form of protection, says new study on decision-making

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:27:27 EDT

New research shows that if a person is feeling threatened, or concerned with their status, they are more likely to choose the option that gives them less. And although this choice might seem irrational from an economic perspective, this choice satisfies an important psychological need.

HIV self-testing: The key to controlling the global epidemic

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:26:26 EDT

A new international study has confirmed that self-testing for HIV is effective and could be the answer to controlling the global epidemic. This systematic review shows HIV self-testing removes much of the fear and stigma associated with being tested for the disease. This study could pave the way for early detection and treatment around the world, thereby reducing transmission.

Stop 'bad guys with guns' by implementing good policies

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:50:50 EDT

The National Rifle Association has put forward a National Shield School Proposal which supports the placement of armed security in all schools. A new review attempts to find a balanced and unbiased view of the facts within this heated and emotional debate.

Dangers of surveillance: It's bad, but why?

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 10:07:07 EDT

Surveillance is everywhere, from street corner cameras to the subject of books and movies. “We talk a lot about why surveillance is bad, but we don’t really know why,” says Neil Richards, JD, privacy law expert and professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis. “We only have a vague intuition about it, which is why courts don’t protect it. We know we don’t like it, and that it has something to do with privacy, but beyond that, the details can be fuzzy.” Richards’ new article on the topic, “The Danger of Surveillance,” will be published in the next issue of the Harvard Law Review.

How hard is it to 'de-anonymize' cellphone data?

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:25:25 EDT

Scientists analyzed data on 1.5 million cellphone users in a small European country over a span of 15 months and found that just four points of reference, with fairly low spatial and temporal resolution, was enough to uniquely identify 95 percent of them. This means that to extract the complete location information for a single person from an “anonymized” data set of more than a million people, all you would need to do is place him or her within a couple of hundred yards of a cellphone transmitter, sometime over the course of an hour, four times in one year. A few Twitter posts would probably provide all the information you needed, if they contained specific information about the person’s whereabouts.

Study explores gang activity on the internet

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:15:15 EDT

Gangs are not using the Internet to recruit new members or commit complex cybercrimes, according to a new study.

Sustainable Development Goals must sustain people and planet, experts say

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:52:52 EDT

Scientists are arguing for a set of six Sustainable Development Goals that link poverty eradication to protection of Earth's life support. The researchers argue that in the face of increasing pressure on the planet's ability to support life, adherence to out-dated definitions of sustainable development threaten to reverse progress made in developing countries over past decades.

Predictive Analysis: New generation of computational intelligence systems

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:55:55 EDT

Large parts of our lives are now being monitored and analysed by computers. Log on to Amazon and intelligent data analysis software can recommend a selection of books you might like to read. Far from being a sinister intrusion into people's privacy, the purpose of these systems is to improve our lives, experts say.

Online records could expose intimate details and personality traits of millions

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:11:11 EDT

Research shows that intimate personal attributes can be predicted with high levels of accuracy from "traces" left by seemingly innocuous digital behavior, in this case Facebook Likes -- raising important questions about personalized marketing and online privacy.

'Bad neighborhoods' on the internet are a real nuisance

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 09:38:38 EST

Of the 42,000 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) surveyed, just 20 were found to be responsible for nearly half of all the internet addresses that send spam. That just is one of the striking results of an extensive study that focused on “Bad Neighborhoods” on the internet (which sometimes correspond to certain geographical areas) that are the source of a great deal of spam, phishing or other undesirable activity.

Texans not eager to change gun laws

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 13:39:39 EST

Poll shows large majority of Texans support background checks for all gun purchases, but they are not eager to change existing gun laws.

Shadows over data sharing

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 08:06:06 EST

Experience gained from data sharing during the human genome sequencing project could apply to the broader research community. Experts look at the history of the debates surrounding data access during and after the human genome "war".

British children more exposed to alcohol promotion than adults, experts warn

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 19:46:46 EST

Children in Britain are more exposed to alcohol promotion than adults and need much stronger protection, warn experts.

Closer personal relationships could help teens overcome learning disabilities

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 11:34:34 EST

A new study from Israel says that children with learning disabilities develop less secure attachments with mothers and teachers, and that closer and more secure relationships with parents and adults may help them overcome these disabilities.

Hello car, what is the password?

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 09:35:35 EST

As cars get clever -- bristling with computer chips and networking capabilities -- an EU-funded project makes sure that your car's data stays safe and the networks are secure from hackers and tampering.

How much protection is enough?

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 22:56:56 EST

Protection of marine areas from fishing increases density and biomass of fish and invertebrates (such as lobster and scallops), finds a systematic review. The success of a protected area was also dependent on its size and on how it was managed, however even partial protection provides significant ecological benefits.

Background checks, permanent records needed for all firearm transfers, not just gun sales by retailers, experts urge

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:36:36 EST

Gun violence in the United States can be substantially reduced if Congress expands requirements for background checks on retail gun sales to cover firearm transfers between private parties, a new report concludes.

Privacy risk in your DNA

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:49:49 EST

Scientists have found that advances in DNA sequencing carry with them an enormous risk -- the theft of personal information from genetics databases poses a serious threat to privacy. They urge that new legislation concerning the maintenance of private and public databases, as well as anti-genetic-discrimination laws, should be drafted.

Work-life balance needed for recovery from job stress

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:33:33 EST

Detaching from work -- mentally, physically and electronically -- is the key to recovery from job stress during nonwork hours, according to an expert.

System uses video surveillance cameras to alert security agents of dangerous situations

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 12:59:59 EST

Researchers in Spain have developed an intelligent system that analyzes video surveillance camera images in real time, detects anomalous situations and alerts the nearest security agents in urgent situations, such as the presence of a vehicle moving in the wrong direction.

Security protocol for online banking and Facebook has ‘serious weaknesses,’ say researchers

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 21:24:24 EST

The protocol that provides security for online banking, credit card data and Facebook has major weaknesses, according to researchers.

Policy, enforcement may stop employees from wasting time online at work

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 12:07:07 EST

Researchers studied cyberloafing -- wasting time at work on the Internet -- and the effects of Internet use policies and punishment on reducing cyberloafing.

Broker fees from mutual funds affect advice; predict worse performance, new study says

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 10:19:19 EST

Brokers are supposed to recommend investments that are in the best interests of their clients. But a new study has found that mutual funds offering higher broker fees attract the most investments, especially when the broker is not affiliated with the mutual fund company.

Online social networking at work can improve morale and reduce employee turnover

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 17:13:13 EST

By allowing employees to participate in a work-sponsored internal social networking site, a company can improve morale and reduce turnover, according to a new article.

Safeguards needed for tissue donors

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 13:39:39 EST

Donors to biobanks -- vast collections of human tissue samples that scientists hope will lead to new treatments for diseases -- have a right to basic information about how their donations may be used, an ethicist argues in a new article.

Business, government can span tech divide for people with disabilities

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 23:14:14 EST

Forging public and private partnerships that encourage broadband access for people with disabilities may help bridge a technological divide that hinders them from reaching their potential, according to an international team of researchers.

Seeing beyond cameras: Predicting where people move in CCTV blind spots

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 19:53:53 EST

A new model could be a useful security tool in tracking people in large, busy venues such as airport terminals and shopping centers.

Privacy a problem for mothers of newborns in neonatal intensive care units

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 12:37:37 EST

Many mothers of newborns in neonatal intensive care units have difficulty finding private, quiet places in the hospital to express milk, according to a new study.

U.K. hospital infection surveillance system flawed, say experts

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 19:26:26 EST

Patients recovering from surgery get infections far more often than is being reported, a new study has found. Infection prevention specialists are now calling for a clear and standardized system for hospitals to try to identify the true scale of surgical infections.

Ethical dilemmas in social network-based research

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 14:20:20 EST

The growing trend towards conducting research on youths as they use social networking sites like Facebook raises ethical questions in academia. Guidelines and best practices are lacking.

Information required for short-term water management decisions outlined

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 18:59:59 EST

Adapting to future climate change impacts requires capabilities in hydroclimate monitoring, short-term prediction and application of such information to support contemporary water management decisions. A new report provides details.