Apple IOS5 and Icloud etc

[Mike]

Mike,

"personally wouldn't get paranoid over it" - drats, and I tried so hard...


Steve

Sorry you didn't try hard enough, you failed and of course I was referring to myself, I never did think you were paranoid

I'm actually quite pleased I started this thread as it hasn't run too far off course and it does focus your mind on potential problems.

To my mind the biggest threats are Identity theft and bank account theft most other information on me I have provided voluntary so don't concern me, even in private emails I would never give information about anyone else and If I can't stand behind my own information then I shouldn't be giving it!

I personally don't use mobile phones to access my bank account although I access it all the time from home, however these days the banks seemed to have tightened up a lot from what they used to be like. I, like most others I suspect have to use a dongle that gives a 1 time generated code to access my accounts and when paying online though a secure site nearly all transactions these days are referred back through the bank for me to provide a password.
I don't doubt though that these will be updated again in due course to counter new illegal activity.

As I said I do think it's all about having a balance.

And I still think that Photostream is Brilliant!

[Steve]

Bob,

I wouldn't worry about it. Assuming you use them they have to have more info on you than that, don't they.. but I guess I could bring up a screen like that if I logged on with say an email account that wasn't one I used to log on/use other things. It doesn't mean they don't have the info etc.

They talk of that screen showing info taken from over 20 of their services.. it says that in spots like this: http://www.google.com/support/accoun...?answer=162744

My point was really that it will often have things like credit card info, when most folks don't believe they have ever given Google such info. It will also often have age, address, and heaps more... and in no case will most folks feel they ever gave that info to Google.

Why it works that way is that Google do some things people don't expect, and that Google own other things, like order processing systems that capture credit card info, and other systems that capture age or D.O.B. or address, and others than note what you looked at on things they own, like YouTube or their Web services and so on.

They also explain they capture a fair bit that is not in that page too.. in spots like this: http://www.google.com/support/accoun...?answer=162743

I think you can rest assured that security services etc can call up every single piece of info you have ever entered on the Internet. Watch any suitable major criminal case on TV these days and they will often talk of what the person found guilty did on the Internet in the days leading up to their arrest... so even Sky News
seems to get to know let alone Google...

Steve

[Steve]

Mike,

I personally don't use mobile phones to access my bank account although I access it all the time from home, however these days the banks seemed to have tightened up a lot from what they used to be like. I, like most others I suspect have to use a dongle that gives a 1 time generated code to access my accounts

Hmmm...

So, who do our government say are the worst people in the world for breaking into our bank accounts and government and major company computers?

They already estimate losses each year to be massive because of the theft of information this way by these people, don't they...?

Some UK examples/info:

http://www.eweekeurope.co.uk/news/ch...nomy-mod-43432

http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/chin...works_1_680374

Some US examples/info:

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/1916...ee-hacking.htm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology...ites-suspected

Attacks against Google and others:

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/fe...hacking-201109

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...7506U320110602

...and now look on the back of that dongle.. you see that PRC stamped into the plastic...

So, the Peoples Republic of China seem to control access to your bank account.. how neat..

This is a threat in a way I'm not sure if people have considered.. say we fall out with the Chinese, as we are almost certain to do when we declare bankruptcy along with the rest of Europe and the US and so take away most of China's accumulated wealth.. What will they do to retaliate... well, as well as shooting down and disabling our satellites and invading here and there do you think they might just turn off all of our internet and phone services, and make all things like online banking and access to our money in any way impossible...

Are the Chinese leaders 'good people'... elected in free and fair elections, and not murdering even their own citizens in hefty numbers at a steady rate...

I expect you have seen the news about China already taking control of our telecoms...stories such as this one: http://www.utility-exchange.co.uk/co...hnology-13846/

...that's probably enough for one message...

Steve

[Steve]

...I just saw a story on the front of ukexpert that seems to fit with all of this.

We are discussing above how people are stealing information, and then using that for wrong doing. The problem with talking of this is that a lot of folks will dismiss it as paranoid thinking or even as total tosh... and as simply not happening. In fact it is all much larger than say drug crime in the UK...but it tends to go unreported because pointing out how to do it is not sensible, as it is way too easy to do...

I can understand that to an extent because the massive losses already taking place in the UK are generally hidden away and not talked about.. so it was neat to see a story that actually shows what is being done with stolen information etc, and how it directly affects most here - who will have had their money stolen...

How can that be if you don't know of it? Well local councils in the UK are losing millions due to being tricked out of vast amounts of your money.... and here is one story on it from the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15660029

Steve

PS:

I was hoping we'd move ahead with this discussion and how all the security we used to have around our bank accounts etc has been removed and replaced by a deadly simple 4 digit code that can only consist of 0-9's...and that the system is totally insecure now...

It would also be neat to discuss Card security.. and how any card you have with a little WiFi type sign on it is now BROADCASTING your info 24 hours a day. Some info on that is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_identity_theft

...not gonna have that sort of card.. oh yes you are... Most have them already, and look at the sort of massive new uses about to start up for them.... http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/medi...ive/19216.aspx