Nova Scotia health data at risk due to ineffective cybersecurity: report | Global News

Nova Scotia doesn’t provide effective cybersecurity for its digital health networks, and as a result is exposed to unnecessary risk, says a new report by the province’s auditor general. Kim Adair’s report published Tuesday found a lack of accountability and collaboration between the three government entities that oversee the system: the health department, the cybersecurity and digital solutions department, and Nova Scotia’s health authority. Read full story here: Nova Scotia health data at risk due to ineffective cybersecurity: report | Global News

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Governments can spy via smartphone push notifications, Apple and Google confirm | Mashable

Well, here’s something you might have never considered: Your iPhone and Android device push notifications can be used by law enforcement or governments to spy on you. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice with a concern that his office was attempting to investigate. According to Senator Wyden’s letter as first reported by Reuters, his office received a tip in the Spring of last year about how foreign governments were requesting push notification data from companies like Apple and Google. Read full story here:…

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We caught technicians at Best Buy, Mobile Klinik, Canada Computers and others snooping on our personal devices | CBC News

Marketplace investigation recorded technicians peeping on personal photos, browser history When you need to drop off your tech devices for a repair, how confident are you that they won’t be snooped on? CBC’s Marketplace took smartphones and laptops to repair stores across Ontario — including large chains Best Buy and Mobile Klinik — and found that in more than half of the documented cases, technicians accessed intimate photos and private information not relevant to the repair. Marketplace dropped off devices at 20 stores, ranging from small independent shops to medium-sized chains to larger…

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Darknet markets generate millions in revenue selling stolen personal data | Ars Technica

It is common to hear news reports about large data breaches, but what happens once your personal data is stolen? Our research shows that, like most legal commodities, stolen data products flow through a supply chain consisting of producers, wholesalers, and consumers. But this supply chain involves the interconnection of multiple criminal organizations operating in illicit underground marketplaces. The stolen data supply chain begins with producers—hackers who exploit vulnerable systems and steal sensitive information such as credit card numbers, bank account information, and Social Security numbers. Read full story here:…

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Phishing scams through text on the rise in Canada, CRTC says | Global News

The federal telecom regulator is reminding Canadians to stay vigilant on their cellphones as more phishing messages are being sent by text. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) told Global News on Thursday that between July and September, 83 per cent of all phishing messages reported to its spam reporting centre were sent as texts. While spam messages sent by email are still the most common type of spam reported, a CRTC spokesperson said in a statement “a shift does appear to be happening for the category of phishing…

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Some Top 100,000 Websites Collect Everything You Type—Before You Hit Submit | Ars Technica

When you sign up for a newsletter, make a hotel reservation, or check out online, you probably take for granted that if you mistype your email address three times or change your mind and X out of the page, it doesn’t matter. Nothing actually happens until you hit the Submit button, right? Well, maybe not. As with so many assumptions about the web, this isn’t always the case, according to new research: A surprising number of websites are collecting some or all of your data as you type it into…

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Today Is Data Privacy Day. Here’s What You Need To Do To Secure Your Info | c|net

here’s no shortage of made-up national holidays. Among the fabricated celebrations: Houseplant Appreciation Day, Irish Coffee Day and Bubble Wrap Day. However, there is one such holiday actually worth observing: Data Privacy Day, which happens to be today. It’s a good reminder to check up on the safety of your personal data. The holiday began in the US and Canada back in 2008. It’s an extension of a European holiday marking 1981’s Convention 108, the first legally binding international treaty on protecting privacy and data. Read full story here: Today…

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Canadian Class-Action Suit Against Facebook Alleges Misuse Of Personal Information | CTV News

OTTAWA — Two Facebook users are seeking damages on behalf of hundreds of thousands of Canadians whose personal data may have been improperly used for political purposes. The proposed class-action lawsuit filed by Calgary residents Saul Benary and Karma Holoboff asks the Federal Court to order the social-media giant to bolster its security practices to better protect sensitive information and comply with federal privacy law. It also seeks $1,000 for each of the approximately 622,000 Canadians whose information was shared with others through a digital app. In April last year,…

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Amazon, Google, AI And Us: Are We Too Close For Comfort? | CNET

Beyond facial recognition, we’re giving smart devices and platforms our intimate biometric details. Iris scanning is a powerful identification tool. Computers aren’t just getting smarter, they’re studying us more closely too. Whether it’s in the name of public safety, fraud protection or simple convenience, we’re feeding AI systems details that identify us and track our comings and goings. Read full story here: Amazon, Google, AI And Us: Are We Too Close For Comfort? | CNET

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Stats Canada Planning To Ask Gender Questions In ‘Pilot’ Census – And Answering Is Mandatory | CBC News

Next year, Statistics Canada is going to be asking 250,000 Canadian households some personal questions it has never asked before — and answering them honestly is mandatory. The agency is conducting what it calls a “pilot” census next May and June to road-test questionnaires and procedures for the next full-scale census, set for 2021. After more than a year of consultations with data users, Statistics Canada has decided to add detailed personal questions – and needs to be sure they are properly answered to ensure the test is valid. Read full story…

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