Bruce Schneier: Securing Your PC and Your Privacy
Bruce Schneier is a prolific writer on the subjects of cryptology, privacy and security. And this is a fantastic interview where he really clears up some common misconceptions and gets down to the raw facts of security on the web.

Mashable

Is Twitter Ranking Your Popularity or Stealing Your Password?
This topic has been running around the web all week – Is it okay to give your login credentials to a site just because they ask for it? Posts like this have got a lot of people thinking about how easy it is to be phished.

Ecommerce Journal

20% CVs Contain the Information Enough For Identity Theft
It’s common practice to put a CV/resume on the web but does the information we normally put online put us at risk for identity theft? Here are some helpful facts and tips on protecting our identity online.

Information Week

Firefox Add-On Simulates Great Firewall Of China
Aram Bartholl, Even Roth and Tobias Leingruber’s recent Firefox add-on has been getting lots of buzz, since it lets people get a glimpse of what surfing the web is like in China.

IT World

10 Tips To Prevent Identity Theft While Shopping Online
Over 9 million Americans have their identity stolen each year.Great tips on how to protect your online identity and shop safely on the web.

Intruders

Interview With Tim O’Reilly (video)
This interview with Tom O’Reilly at Web 2.0 Expo gives fantastic insight on recession issues, start-ups and lots more…

And in the spirit of all things Halloween and security:

A top highlight for me was having the chance to ask Tim O’Reilly “Don’t you think there’s a need to keep relevant information private in Web 2.0, or at least to share it with people you really trust?”

Tim answered with a firm“Absolutely”. Thanks, Tim! We think so too.

A few hours later I got to take part in another informal, unexpected event: a 60 second TechCrunch Pitch! improvised by Mike Butcher. Adrenaline was high when Mike invited ten startups to pitch via Twitter. My voice is at minute 12 or so. Thanks again Mike.

If we did or didn’t get the chance to meet in Berlin, I’d be happy to hear your thoughts on the event.

[Photo credit: Luca Sartoni]

InfoWorld

French President Sarkozy’s Bank Account Hacked
Similar to the Sarah Palin password hacking, but this time hackers actually got a hold of French President’s username and password. Yet another politician who needs Passpack help.

TalkingPointsMemo

Tech Policy and the Financial Crisis
Shared Host-Proof Hosting quickly came to mind with the growing concern for data privacy. “…companies holding your data aren’t the ones who get hurt if your information or identity is compromised.”

Government Computer News

Locals Leave SSNs Unprotected
How safe is your Social Security number on the web? “Many counties make public records that may contain Social Security Numbers [SSNs] available in bulk to businesses and individuals in response to state open-records laws…”

Journalism.co.za

Of Course We Spy on Our Editors – Zimpapers
Is it a company’s right to spy on their employees? Zimpapers seems to think so. Their employees could have benefited from Secure Messaging.

BBC News

Woman In Jail Over Virtual Murder
If you are not getting along with your virtual wife, make sure your passwords are safe before you decide to divorce her.

The Laughing Squid

Phishing Scams in Plain English (video)
Great Common Craft video on how not to be fooled by phishers.

Passpack is an online password manager, not a Press office but we do dedicate ourselves to privacy and it seems only fitting that we share some of our favorite posts of the week with you. If you have any suggestions or great posts that you’d like to share, we’re eager to hear your comments!

Small businesses, more than ever, should be aware of security issues that they face. They do not usually have IT departments, let alone security experts, to go over what should be done or not done by the users to keep everything safe. I think that now is an important day to go over security issues that might affect your company. Here are few tips:

File Storage – Smaller companies are starting to issue laptops to users as their main machines so that employees can work anywhere. Storing company files on the laptop opens up smaller companies to a lot of security breaches. Laptops should be password protected, data should be encrypted, and backed up. Companies should also keep most of their files on a file server at the office with a VPN connection to the server. There are many ways of accomplishing this and a quick Google search can lead you on your way. The other way to store files is to have them stored in a secure hosting facility that will backup all the files for you just in case something happens to the data center or the original documents.

Passwords – This happens to all companies both big and small, a user either has easy passwords, passwords that are easy to guess like the name of their dog, or they write it down and put it in easy view (think War Games). We already know that users hate when the IT guy walks around and makes them change their password every 2 weeks but users need to do it even if that means that they will hate the geek that patrols their cubicle.

Starbucks (the office away from the office) – We know it’s fun to work in a remote locations especially one like Starbucks or any local coffee shop but as a small business you need to protect yourself in these locations. Make sure you use VPN when working on an open wireless connection and use one of the laptop locks that fits in to that slot on your machine (that’s the one that most people have no clue what its for). Going to the bathroom and doing the strange dance of “Do I take the laptop with me?” will make you look stranger than using one of the locks.

So these are few basic ways for small businesses to help protect their property and identity. In a world where you can work from anywhere as long as there is an internet connection it’s better to be very safe and take some precautions. So use remote file storage, keep your passwords safe, encrypt everything, and have that second cup of coffee as long as the machine is locked to the chair.

Bart Mroz has a very well rounded technology and business background. Currently a partner at round3media, a creative agency. Bart has been providing strategic technology and business consulting services through Bartek Management for the past few years and he is also one of the founders of IndyHall in Philadelphia, PA, USA. You can find most of his internet life at electronicsandbox.com.

It hit me that in the age of digital photography, a properly motivated photographer could probably find fingerprints on all kinds of surfaces, and capture them as expertly as Dale did. I realized it was no longer necessary to use special powder or inks or tape or whatever. Fingerprints have become a thing of “sousveillance”.

If you have not checked out Kim’s blog yet, but are interested in Digital Identity and the technology behind it, I highly recommend stopping by: http://www.identityblog.com/home.php/.