Author Archives: Jim Brock

Just who are these trackers?

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Jim Brock

It’s a frequently asked question from our users. How could there possibly be more than 1,200 companies collecting data about you as you across the web and mobile apps? This quick video from the Interactive Advertising Bureau illustrates the increasingly … Continue reading →

Posted in Do Not Track, Folks, Pros, Trackerlist | Leave a comment

Get ready for Facebook Graph Search with Privacyfix 3.0

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Jim Brock

Today we launched Privacyfix 3.0, a major upgrade focused on getting you ready for Facebook Graph Search. All the details are in the press release (below). This post is about the highlights. The first thing you need to know is: … Continue reading →

Posted in Facebook, Folks, Privacyfix, Pros | 3 Comments

Basic training for Facebook Graph Search

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Jim Brock

I couldn’t resist this amusing video about getting ready for Facebook Graph Search. (I promise, it won’t be this painful!).

Posted in Facebook, Graph Search, Privacyfix | Leave a comment

Good stuff: The FTC’s security checklist for app developers

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Jim Brock

Today the FTC published a very helpful set of guidance for app developers on the best practices to keep user data secure. So helpful, in fact, that it’s worthy of repeating in full right here: Make someone responsible for security. … Continue reading →

Posted in Pros | Leave a comment

What Apple’s privacy design team has been working so hard on

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Jim Brock

Previously on the PrivacyChoice Blog, I was critical of Apple’s implementation of Do Not Track in iOS 6.0, which stands as a striking exercise in hide-the-ball product design. Literally, finding and exercising your choice about being tracked by advertisers requires … Continue reading →

Posted in Apple, Pros | Leave a comment

A privacy demonstration of Facebook Graph Search

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Jim Brock

If, like me, you don’t yet have access to Facebook’s new Graph Search feature, here’s a useful demonstration that highlights privacy issues. If you are concerned about your settings on Facebook, clean them up with Privacyfix.

Posted in Folks, Pros | Leave a comment

Next time someone tells you people don’t care about privacy online …

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Jim Brock

Microsoft published research today that highlights the sense of unease most people feel about their online privacy. This is an embedded Microsoft Office presentation, powered by Office Web Apps.

Posted in Folks, Pros | 1 Comment

Facebook’s announces Graph Search: Your privacy settings are now more important than ever

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Jim Brock

Facebook announced this morning the roll out of an enhanced search feature called Graph Search. Using natural language queries, you can now search Facebook in an ultra-precise manner. For example, you can search for people who live in your city, … Continue reading →

Posted in Facebook, Folks, Pros | 1 Comment

Privacyfix Update: Three things to know about Facebook’s privacy refresh

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Jim Brock

Today Facebook previewed some nice improvements to their privacy interface. We don’t expect these to affect the set of choices in Privacyfix, and there are no new settings to manage. If you (like me) haven’t actually seen these changes yet, … Continue reading →

Posted in Facebook, Folks, Social Network Privacy | Leave a comment

Testing industry self-regulation with adMarketplace (updated 12/12)

Posted on December 11, 2012 by Jim Brock

Update 12/12/12: In response to this post, adMarketplace has amended their privacy policy to eliminate the ability to utilize offline data from other sources. The revised policy also is more narrow in the use of IP addresses, contemplating that they … Continue reading →

Posted in Outliers, Pros | Leave a comment