The social networking site RockYou has agreed to settle FTC charges that its security flaws allowed hackers to access the personal information of 32 million users. The FTC complaint also alleges that the company collected info from more than 100,000 kids in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). RockYou will pay a $250,000 civil penalty for the alleged COPPA violations.
Yesterday, we featured the FTC’s newly released privacy report, which outlines a framework for protecting privacy in the 21st Century. Among other recommendations, the report strongly supports Do Not Track, a mechanism that would allow you to choose what information is collected about your online activities and how it’s used.
In today’s world of smart phones, smart grids, and smart cars, companies are collecting, storing, and sharing more and more information about you. In fact, as illustrated by the FTC’s new video, you might not realize just how often companies do so.
March 4-10, 2012, is the 14th annual National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW)! NCPW is a coordinated campaign to focus attention on the importance of consumer education. To celebrate, federal agencies, state and local governments, and consumer organizations are promoting free resources to help consumers better understand their rights in the marketplace.
If you have a smartphone or tablet computer, you probably use apps. And chances are your kids do, too. Easy to download and often free, apps are quickly becoming an everyday part of kids’ lives. While this new media provides enormous opportunities for users of all ages, it also raises some concerns.
Yesterday, United States law enforcement officials announced charges against seven individuals and two corporations for running an international criminal enterprise allegedly responsible for worldwide online piracy of copyrighted works, including movies – often before their theatrical release – music, television programs, electronic books, and business and entertainment software on a massive scale.
In light of Zappo’s recent announcement that its database was hacked, OnGuardOnline.gov offers the following tips to help you reduce your risk of identity theft:
You’ve probably heard about cookies and online tracking. Perhaps you’ve been wondering how they work, but you’re not sure where to start. OnGuardOnline.gov has the info you need to understand what cookies are, what they do, and how you can control them.
Assistant Director, Consumer & Business Education, FTC
OnGuardOnline.gov and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are hearing from people who think we’ve called them. OnGuardOnline.gov is an educational website managed by the federal government. We never contact people by phone to ask for their information or to “fix” their computers. The phone number you see on your caller ID is probably a fake.
