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The idea behind Net Neutrality is the concept that all internet traffic be treated equally regardless of content. In theory, the amendments would have ensured the internet continued to function just as it is in its current form.
Why would we need legislation to just keep the internet as it is?
That’s a really good question. The idea of Net Neutrality is that all the data that is bussed around the internet travels at the same speed and gets to its destination at the same time regardless of who sends or transports that data. i.e., whether it’s someone watching Netflix, or a company like Amazon holding a conference call.
Campaigners who have harshly criticised the no vote are concerned that the existing regulations are too vague and many worry that it will be easy for internet firms to strike deals with content providers which may not be advantageous for everyone.
Woah, this could actually really affect me…
Yes, it could.
The answer resides in the fact that certain Internet Service Providers and other ‘big money’ corporations would like to see the creation of a tiered internet.
The problem is that it’s really quite easy for ISPs to give certain types of traffic priority over others. ISPs could, in theory, charge more for video streaming websites, such as Netflix, to use the example again, to ensure their data gets to where it is without buffering or delays, while perhaps making a rival streaming company’s traffic data almost unwatchable.
For big video streaming companies, it’s serious cause for concern. Should the current form of net neutrality change, different companies could find themselves suddenly handing over a lot more money to ISPs than they had previously, and the biggest companies could pay more priority access to gain a monopolistic dominance over the internet. No one wants this, unless you happen to live in China.
Campaigners and interest groups also warned that ‘zero-rating’ agreements where customers have unlimited access to certain sites outside their data packages will become more widespread.
Several large internet based companies had urged MEPS to adopt the amendments to the current legislation, including Kickstarter, Netflix and Reddit. They claimed that current regulations are too vague, ambiguous, and open to interpretation and abuse.
Tim Berners Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web had also urged MEPs to vote through the amendments claiming that failure to so will stifle innovation and monetise the internet.
3 EU countries, including the Netherlands have already enshrined Net Neutrality into domestic law.
Seems like a pretty dumb move on the part of the EU parliament?
Yes, it does. But if you can step back and look at the bigger picture, you can understand the reasoning behind it. For years the EU parliament have been trying to amend the regulations regarding ‘roaming charges’ for mobile phone users. Many MEPs were worried, apparently, that by adopting the Net Neutrality amendments they would risk yet another delay in the abolition of roaming charges.
In some respects the difference is in marked contrast to the US where even there, Net Neutrality has been given regulatory protection.
Time will tell just how the new rule affect the internet for users in the EU.
The post EU votes against Net Neutrality For Its Citizens appeared first on TechBeat.
That’s right, for less than it costs to post a UK letter first class, you can now buy someone’s stolen credentials.
He’s smiling because he just stole your bank login details, and because you don’t really care
The report, named The Hidden Data Economy, published earlier this month, detailed an extensive investigation undertaken by McAfee Labs into the Dark Side of the internet and also the hidden world of buying and selling stolen personal and corporate digital information online.
One of the main concerns raised by the report is that contrary to popular belief:
In fact, a previous report by McAfee highlighted just how easy it was to access the underground marketplace for cybercrime, by anyone with a web browser. Since that report was released in 2013, McAfee notes that that access has only gotten easier.
The report also highlights the concept of ‘data breach fatigue;’ the idea that the sheer number of hacks being reported by companies and government agencies is greeted by the public mostly with a shrug. The recent Ashley Madison.com hack being a rare exception because of the ‘sex’ angle.
McAfee’s summary of how much it costs to buy someone else’s financial data
McAfee Labs discovered that one stolen US credit card number could cost as little as 5-8 dollars. European card numbers retail for between 25-30 dollars. Buyers willing to pay a little more could also add to their basket and purchase an entire digital identity belonging to someone else. This typically includes full addresses, pin numbers, mother’s maiden names, and CVV2 numbers.
More worrying that the apparent ease with which the easily accessible hidden economy is growing, is McAfee’s reasoning that the:
The report is alarmingly blunt in its conclusions, saying that the evidence found of ‘the hidden data economy…make the threat clear…[that]… purchase and rental of exploits and exploit kits…are fueling an enormous number of infections across the world. Cataloging the available offers is impossible because the field is growing at a tremendous rate.’
The solution, according to McAfee is that everyone needs to be more pro-active in the fight against both malware and other cyber threats. If people do not take sufficient care to look after their own online insecurities, ‘information from our digital lives may appear for resale to anyone with an Internet connection.’
The post McAfee Labs: Dark Web Sells Credit Card Numbers For 55 Cents appeared first on TechBeat.
Apple is taking heat from the US government again, but it’s not over ebooks, patents, or price fixing this time. In the latest battle between the tech giant and the government, now it’s federal law enforcement officials who are demanding Apple unlock an iPhone. Invoking the All Writs Act with a technological update, officials contend that Apple must provide access to the content of a specific suspect’s phone; a judge is currently weighing the filings from both sides to see if the Act applies in this situation.
For its part though, Apple says the issue is clear. Not only would this be such a breach of consumer trust as to cause permanent harm to the company’s reputation and financial bottom line, there’s another bigger issue preventing them from complying: Apple says it can’t be done.
One of the company’s ramped up privacy enhancements–a boon to users in the wake of Edward Snowden’s revelations–is that even Apple can’t get into your device without your passcode. This change in the way its OS works has been in place since the launch of iOS 8.
Unfortunately, the phone in this particular case that the agents want into so badly is running iOS 7. And their texperts say not only can it be done, but that it’s not even a violation of Apple’s user agreement on that model of phone or software. (Opinion: still think it’s annoying to update your devices?)
While the specifics on the actual case have not been revealed, Apple has restated its stance on the potential for irreparable harm to the trust that users have in the company, hoping that the judge will agree the damage will far outweigh the benefit of compelling Apple’s team to do the possibly-impossible.
California just became the first state in the US to enact stricter privacy legislation, largely with the support of Silicon Valley. This legislation bars investigators from gathering information provided through a third-party–such as a device manufacturer or cellular service provider–without a warrant. While the warrant has been issued in this particular case and therefore the new law would not prevent the company from assisting the authorities, it is an indication of just how seriously the tech industry takes its customers’ privacy.
The post Feds Demand Apple Unlock iPhone’s Passcode appeared first on TechBeat.
