Post thumbnail
The recent ABC article titled How safe are GPS trackers for children – and what should I know before buying one? raises concerns about the ethics of technological surveillance and asks, ‘are we being sucked in by their convenience?’ When we digitise information or upload it to the internet, we run the risk of having that information…
Read More Who is protecting your information on the internet?
A hand holding a credit card in front of a laptop
Australians have already lost more money to online shopping scams in 2019 than in the entire previous year, and Scamwatch is warning people to be cautious of online shopping scams in the lead up to the holiday season. So far in 2019, reported losses from online shopping scams are over $4 million, well in excess…
Read More ACCC warns of increase in online shopping scams
A close-up image of smart phone app widgets
The Australian Government is seeking community and industry input on a voluntary Code of Practice to improve the security of the Internet of Things for consumers in Australia, including the security of everyday smart devices that connect to the internet; such as smart TVs, watches and home speakers. With over 64 billion devices expected to…
Read More Lifting the cyber security of the Internet of Things
Post thumbnail
The following is a press release from the Internet Society. A survey conducted in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, France and the United Kingdom by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the Internet Society and Consumers International found that 65% of consumers are concerned with the way connected devices collect data. More than half (55%) do not trust…
Read More Concerns Over Privacy and Security Contribute to Consumer Distrust in Connected Devices
Post thumbnail
A new set of principles, guidelines and checklists cover the key areas that must be taken into account to create a trusted consumer Internet of Things service or product: security; privacy; transparency; supporting vulnerable consumers; customer support and complaint handling; and environment. Consumer IoT Trust by Design 2019 Guidelines and Checklists was designed in collaboration…
Read More Trusted consumer Internet of Things service or product
Post thumbnail
Safer Internet Day is an annual, worldwide event to help encourage a better internet, with this year’s theme ‘Together for a better internet’ encouraging individuals to create a better internet by developing four, critical skills – Respect, Responsibility, Reasoning and Resilience. The Office of the eSafety Commissioner is the official Committee for Safer Internet Day in Australia—responsible…
Read More Safer Internet Day: “Together for a better internet”
Post thumbnail
The number of smart products and objects connected to the internet is rapidly expanding. Worryingly, some products are so insecure that someone with minimal hacking skills can access cameras and microphones, communicate directly with people in the house or access other devices in the home. Consumers International and the Internet Society have produced a video and some practical advice…
Read More Smart products – protect yourself and your family from risks
Post thumbnail
The Internet of Things (IoT) is the rapidly expanding network of devices, physical objects, services and applications that communicate over the internet. Connected devices number in the billions today, and they transmit data without device owners knowing when or how that happens. This is a big issue for consumers as identified in the latest Economist Intelligence Unit…
Read More Internet of things: privacy and consumers
Post thumbnail
Four global and European consumer organisations today launched their principles recommendations to make consumer rights, privacy and security core features of the Internet of Things. Consumers International, BEUC, ANEC and ICRT recognise the benefits of IoT applications but urge developers, manufacturers, policy-makers and regulators to deal with numerous challenges and risks. According to estimates there…
Read More Principles to secure trust in Internet of Things