<![CDATA[Get Cocoon · Storify]]>http://storify.com/getcocoonNodeJS RSS ModuleFri, 24 May 2013 08:15:54 GMT<![CDATA[Government Spying]]>

An Internet wiretap proposal would let the government spy online communications...

Storified by Get Cocoon · Wed, May 01 2013 10:48:52

Government spying hurts the economy · rtamerica

Does the FBI want to bypass the 4th amendment?

"Given the capabilities of today's technology, the only thing protecting us from a full-fledged surveillance society are the legal and political institutions we have inherited as Americans." --ACLU | Barry Steinhardt
Institutionalized Spying on AmericansInstitutionalized Spying on Americans
Financial, medical and other personal information can be accessed freely. So-called "sneak and peak" searches may be conducted through "d...
According to statistics released by Google, U.S. government agencies-state, local, and federal-made a record 13,753 requests to read emails or gather other information sent through the company’s Gmail and other services in 2012. Over half of the requests have been without warrants. --PressTV
'Spying on Americans gets more intense''Spying on Americans gets more intense'
'Spying on Americans gets more intense' The institutionalized spying on the American people by the U.S. government is getting "more inten...
3797_government-spying-e1277133356662_1_460x230 · Inmediahk

Will Government Surveillance Backdoors Become The Norm?

FBI Wants Power to Fine Internet Chat Providers That Don't Comply With Real-Time Spy OrdersFBI Wants Power to Fine Internet Chat Providers That Don't Comply With Real-Time Spy Orders
Bad news for telecommunications companies: New details have emerged about the FBI's efforts to upgrade its surveillance powers-and the fe...
Washington Post"Under the draft proposal, a court could levy a series of escalating fines, starting at tens of thousands of dollars, on firms that fail to comply with wiretap orders, according to persons who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. A company that does not comply with an order within a certain period would face an automatic judicial inquiry, which could lead to fines. After 90 days, fines that remain unpaid would double daily." -- Washington Post |  Ellen Nakashim
Panel seeks to fine tech companies for noncompliance with wiretap ordersPanel seeks to fine tech companies for noncompliance with wiretap orders
Rather than antagonizing companies whose cooperation they need, federal officials typically back off when a company is resistant, industr...
Would updating CALEA and the 1986 Wiretap Act strong-arm companies to open surveillance backdoors that Americans will never be able to shut again?
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]]>http://storify.com/getcocoon/government-spyinghttp://storify.com/getcocoon/government-spyingWed, 01 May 2013 17:48:52 GMT<![CDATA[Short & Sweet Tips for Traveling Abroad ]]>

Treat all your digital devices as though they are completely open to electronic snooping...

Storified by Get Cocoon · Wed, Apr 17 2013 11:43:26

9 Reasons Why You Got Robbed While Traveling · woltersworld

Sign up for the free traveler enrollment program [STEP] Smart Traveler Enrollment Program

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service provided by the U.S. Government t...
Country Specific InformationCountry Specific Information
We provide information on every country in the world. For each country, you will find information like the location of the U.S. embassy a...

Never update your operating system or applications when using public Wi-Fi

Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) | Malware Installed on Travelers' Laptops Through Software Updates on Hotel Internet ConnectionsInternet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) | Malware Installed on Travelers' Laptops Through Software Updates on Hotel Internet Connections
Recently, there have been instances of travelers' laptops being infected with malicious software while using hotel Internet connections. ...

11 travel tips that you may have overlooked!

1. Always leave a spare debit + credit card in the hotel safe so that you will have quick access to cash if you are robbed.
2. Do not store credit card, banking, passport, or other sensitive data on your devices.
3. Carry credit/banking/US Embassy contact phone numbers with you, (both on paper and in digital form).
4. Let your bank know that you will be traveling abroad.
5. Keep some cash on hand at all times.
6. Never leave your digital devices in your hotel room.
7. Check with your Insurance company to see if your property/renters policy covers loss/theft abroad.
8. Scan & encrypt your travel documents to a cloud service that you can access anywhere in the world.
9. Take out some travel insurance before you leave the country.
10. Use a RFID wallet or RFID sleeves to protect all your credit/debit cards from skimming.
11. Keep a dummy wallet on you at all times (with a little bit of cash in it), if you are robbed, the thief won't get away with much.
Tips for Traveling AbroadTips for Traveling Abroad
For detailed information about steps you can take to ensure a safe trip, see How to Have a Safe Trip . Meanwhile, here are some quick t...
U-M | ITS | Safe Computing | Mobile Device Security: Travel with computers, phones, tablets
ALERT Travelers should avoid installing software updates when using a hotel or other guest network. See this FBI advisory: Malware Instal...

Don't miss out viewing your favorite U.S. streaming shows!

Many sites that stream movies and sports will look at your IP address to determine if you can view country-specific content. Many US citizens who travel abroad would like to view their favorite streaming movies or sports - with Cocoon, U.S. content is always available.
Online Privacy & Security Software | CocoonOnline Privacy & Security Software | Cocoon
Cocoon makes the Web a better place by protecting your online privacy, internet security and putting an end to spam. All with a simple br...

Don't get scammed!

Safety Tips For Traveling Abroad - BBB News CenterSafety Tips For Traveling Abroad - BBB News Center
3/2/2011 Many people are planning trips abroad. If you are thinking about doing the same, read the following tips. You will be amazed at ...
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]]>http://storify.com/getcocoon/tips-for-traveling-abroadhttp://storify.com/getcocoon/tips-for-traveling-abroadWed, 17 Apr 2013 18:43:26 GMT<![CDATA[Android Malware Is On The Rise]]>

An unregulated app market enables cybercriminals to gain a foothold in the Android market

Storified by Get Cocoon · Thu, Feb 28 2013 09:25:11

Android Malware SPIES on Your PC Mic! · thetechfeed
End of 2012 saw five-fold increase of Android malwareEnd of 2012 saw five-fold increase of Android malware
Android malware levels increased more than five-fold between September and December 2012, according to the February 2013 Internet Threats...
"Android is by far the most popular mobile operating system in the world today, with a market share of more than 75 percent in the third quarter, according to industry analysts," said Avi Turiel , director of threat research and market analysis at Commtouch. "Its popularity makes it a natural target for cybercriminals of all kinds. The alarming growth rate also demonstrates that the Android platform is still regarded as an easy target."
Android becoming mobile malware magnet, says report | ZDNetAndroid becoming mobile malware magnet, says report | ZDNet
Summary: As for the breakdown of Android malware, Blue Coat noted 58 percent was Android root exploits and rogue software. The Android pl...
 Blue Coat noted 58 percent was Android root exploits and rogue software.
Android malware emerges on Google Play which installs a trojan on ...Android malware emerges on Google Play which installs a trojan on ...
11 hours ago ... We&#39;ve seen malware for PCs that infects mobile devices, but it turns out there&#39;s also malware for mobile devic...
Stay away from this cleaner app! It can send sms messages, enable Wi-Fi, gather info about your device, and open links in your browser.

The Next Web recommends that you only download apps with high download numbers and from trusted developers.

Android malware will kill us all!Android malware will kill us all!
According to the latest report to shock the Android world there's been a 2000% increase in malware in the Google Play Store and one parti...
You have to choose to download malware onto your device. Those tricky cybercriminals try to fool you into doing it, but malware is like vampires – if you don’t invite it into your house then it can’t harm you. If you stick to the Play Store for apps and games, you avoid clicking links in emails, you avoid downloading anything from websites that you don’t know, and you never follow a link within, or respond to, a mystery SMS, then you’ll be fine. --Android Authority
Security Mobile Apps For Android
Keep your Android device safe with these mobile security apps | TechHiveKeep your Android device safe with these mobile security apps | TechHive
Losing your smartphone or tablet means a lot more than you being unable to check in on Foursquare or snap funny cap photos: These devices...
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]]>http://storify.com/getcocoon/android-malware-is-on-the-risehttp://storify.com/getcocoon/android-malware-is-on-the-riseThu, 28 Feb 2013 17:25:11 GMT<![CDATA[Twitter Mommie Bloggers]]>

From budgeting to new mommie info -they've got it all!

Storified by Get Cocoon · Mon, Jan 21 2013 15:00:01

Writer for , blogging er way through the loss of her daughter, autism, life with multiples & everything in between.
Amy is currently stirring the pot as a political writer for BabyCenter.
Kelly owns the Centsible Life blog and believes you can have it all, but on a budget!

Amy is the creator of teachmama.com, where her focus is to share the tools and resources parents need to be the best teachers for their children.
Erin is a work at home marketing mommie.
Colds are for the birds. http://instagr.am/p/UtvQ9qpkxw/ · Erin Lane
Janice and Susan are work-at-home moms who help bring moms together
Kat is a sarcastic mother of 3 running a busy home daycare that clashes with her desire to do nothing.
You find it and these mom's flaunt it - wherever there is coolness...
Kristi is a writer, photographer and Native Hawaiian transplant living in Washington with my husband and four children.
She is the Unknown Mami;  Mother, Wife, Actor, Blogger (not necessarily in that order).
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]]>http://storify.com/getcocoon/what-are-the-twitter-mommie-bloggers-tweetinghttp://storify.com/getcocoon/what-are-the-twitter-mommie-bloggers-tweetingMon, 21 Jan 2013 23:00:01 GMT<![CDATA[Child Internet Safety in 2013]]>

Society has an obligation to protect our children and online safety for children should be a priority.

Storified by Get Cocoon · Wed, Jan 09 2013 07:22:23

"We can take control of protecting our kids today by monitoring their online use, educating them about online safety, and using the tools available to protect them from being tracked". --Vernon Irvin, President & COO of Virtual World Computing
Cocoon for Klaas Kids · getcocoon
Children today are online more than ever, and are at increasing risk of being illegally tracked and having their personal data and identities stolen. These are not just teens. A recent study by Commonsense Media found that 22 percent of 5 to 8-year-olds use computers once a day, and more than a third of children under the age of 8 have used a mobile device – either cell phones or tablets – to watch movies, play games and use apps.
It goes beyond underage use of Facebook and other social media sites, to some questionable marketing practices by some of the most trusted names in the country, including McDonald’s, Nickelodeon, and Walt Disney Company. For example, Playdom, a subsidiary of Disney, recently paid $3 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they violated the Child Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by illegally collecting and disclosing personal information from hundreds of thousands of children under age 13 without their parents’ consent.
The personal data being collected on our children is widely available, not only to marketers trying to sell more french fries and video games, but also to predators. While the risk to our children escalates, proposed legislation to update COPPA and laws around tracking kids has stalled in Congress.

Child Protection Tools

Child Online Safety · Pinterest
Last week, a very important event for child Internet safety took place in Morgan Hill, California. New tools were unveiled during the press conference that include:
1- Cocoon for KlaasKids - browsing protection. CocoonKids for KlaasKids is currently in the final stages of development, and will be available on January, 28, 2013.
2- Polly’s Guardian Angel - smartphone child alert system app.
3- The LEO Wristwatch - GPS tracking with panic button (pending Spring release).
KlaasKids Foundation unveils child protection tools | Video | abc30.comKlaasKids Foundation unveils child protection tools | Video | abc30.com
Action News Live at Ten starts Monday, January 7th on KAIL-TV, My 7.1

Together - We Can Make This Happen

Marc Klaas, KlaasKids Foundation · choicepointcares
KlaasKids FoundationKlaasKids Foundation
Dedicated to the memory of Polly Klaas. The Foundation&#39;s purpose is to inform parents, children, and communities about how to preve...
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]]>http://storify.com/getcocoon/child-internet-safety-in-2013http://storify.com/getcocoon/child-internet-safety-in-2013Wed, 09 Jan 2013 15:22:23 GMT<![CDATA[When updating privacy policies go bad]]>

Sometimes updated privacy policies go too far...

Storified by Get Cocoon · Wed, Dec 19 2012 11:46:59

Facebook Buys Instagram and is now profiting on your personal photos - Invasion of privacy? · rhender777
Good question!
What Am I to You, Instagram?What Am I to You, Instagram?
Dear Instagram, While reading your new terms of use, I wondered a few things. When you say that Instagram "does not claim ownership of an...
"When you say that Instagram "does not claim ownership of any Content," were you hoping I'd be easily satisfied and stop reading right then and there? Did you think I would miss the next sentence, which totally refutes the one before it? Did you think I wouldn't know what granting Instagram a "non-exclusive, fully paid and royalty-free, transferable, sub-licensable, worldwide license to use that Content" means? Did you think that by phrasing that sentence with such jumbled prose I would docilely trust you with my intellectual property? Do you know what claiming "no ownership" means to us simpletons?"  Danny Licht | Huffington Post
Insta-gate Backlash
The web responds with alternatives to Instagram
How-To Download Your Instagram Photos and Kill Your Account | Gadget Lab | Wired.comHow-To Download Your Instagram Photos and Kill Your Account | Gadget Lab | Wired.com
Today Instagram unleashed a brand new terms of service that has rubbed many of its loyal users the wrong way. Instgram can sell your phot...
1- Download all your photos using Instaport
2- Delete your Instagram account
Outrage on the web causes Instagram to rethink it's new privacy policy
Pic Giant Instagram Rethinks Policy After Internet Outrage - The BlazePic Giant Instagram Rethinks Policy After Internet Outrage - The Blaze
3 hours ago ... Facebook Inc. also recently updated its privacy policy to allow for more integration with Instagram. “This means we can...
Will you continue to use Instagram?
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]]>http://storify.com/getcocoon/when-updating-privacy-policies-go-badhttp://storify.com/getcocoon/when-updating-privacy-policies-go-badWed, 19 Dec 2012 19:46:59 GMT<![CDATA[Unchecked Government Surveillance Powers Could nab You]]>

NO - you can't hide Gmail drafts from the U.S. government...

Storified by Get Cocoon · Wed, Nov 14 2012 10:41:04

Plan Bouchard, hublot de surveillance · bobbob65

"What we really need is relief from the surveillance state."

It's time America passed comprehensive privacy legislation to keep pace with rapid changes in technology. If nothing else, the rise and fall of David Petraeus should at least give us more than tragicomic relief. What we really need is relief from the surveillance state. --Carol Rose, On Liberty
Yes, the FBI and CIA can read your email. Here's how | ZDNetYes, the FBI and CIA can read your email. Here's how | ZDNet
"Petraeus-gate," some U.S. pundits are calling it. How significant is it that even the head of the CIA can have his emails read by an alb...
Gen. David Petraeus, the former head of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, resigned over the weekend after he was found to have engaged in an extra-marital affair. What caught Petraeus out was, of all things, his usage of Google's online email service, Gmail. --ZDNet

Even though Petraeus used a pseudonym, composed and saved email messages in Gmail drafts and never sent the drafts to his lover  - the U.S. government was able to gain access to the pseudonym account...
All Three Branches Agree: Big Brother Is the New Normal | Threat Level | Wired.comAll Three Branches Agree: Big Brother Is the New Normal | Threat Level | Wired.com
Indeed, Big Brother is the new normal. Despite Hurricane Sandy, the Supreme Court on Monday entertained oral arguments on whether it shou...

Big Brother is watching all of us...

“Whatever the court decides, Big Brother will still be watching. Big Brother may be watching you right now, and you may never know,” he said. “Since 9/11, our national life has changed forever. Surveillance is the new normal.” --Wired
Email Inbox Not Private, Says South Carolina CourtEmail Inbox Not Private, Says South Carolina Court
The South Carolina Supreme Court has ruled a man's privacy was not violated when his wife's daughter-in-law managed to get into his email...

...and find out the name of his lover because the messages remained in his inbox.

In their unanimous ruling, the justices decided the woman did not violate a 1986 federal law about email storage and ruled a lawsuit from the husband could not go forward.

But the justices also pointed out that just because they ruled the woman didn’t violate the husband’s privacy, it didn’t mean they liked what she did.

“This should in no way be read as condoning her behavior,” Associate Justice Kaye Hearn wrote in her opinion. --Insurance Journal

Cocoon offers Disposable Mailslots

Cocoon Features: Disposable Mailslots
Do you have items that you've wanted to sell on Craigslist but have been leery of the spam and scams that your personal email address cou...
With Cocoon mailslots, you no longer have to use your personal or business email to gain access to a website that requires registration. You do not have to give your real email address to your bank or department store either. You can also easily change a default email address that you initially created into a mailslot by editing your settings at the site that you registered at. You can conveniently delete mailslots at any time.
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]]>http://storify.com/getcocoon/unchecked-government-surveillance-powers-could-nabhttp://storify.com/getcocoon/unchecked-government-surveillance-powers-could-nabWed, 14 Nov 2012 18:41:04 GMT<![CDATA[Surviving Hurricane Sandy]]>

Resources for the aftermath and avoiding disaster scams...

Storified by Get Cocoon · Wed, Oct 31 2012 10:35:03

Resources For the Aftermath of Superstorm SandyResources For the Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy
Millions along the eastern seaboard awoke Tuesday feeling the effects of hybrid superstorm Sandy. At least 20 people are reported dead in...

Download the Hurricane App to monitor conditions in your area

From your mobile phone, call "**REDCROSS" (**73327677) and the Redcross will send you a link to download the hurricane app to your phone or you can download them directly from the iTunes or Google Play app stores.
Google Introduces New Emergency Resources in Response to SandyGoogle Introduces New Emergency Resources in Response to Sandy
Google has scrambled to post online resources for people who want information about the deadly storm Sandy, including maps showing evacua...
On Monday night, the company introduced the new service, public alerts, to show warnings about natural disasters and emergencies based on information from government agencies like Ready.gov and the National Weather Service. Google said it had planned to introduce the service later, but sped up the process in response to Sandy. In the future, it will add alerts from other services, like Nixle, which publishes messages from the local police. --NYTIMES

Avoid Scams

Top 3 Disaster Scams in Wake of Hurricane Sandy - Privacy Project Episode #7 · privacyproject
5 scams to avoid after Sandy5 scams to avoid after Sandy
Major disasters like the superstorm always bring out bottom-feeders who will try to steal your money or your identity. This post comes fr...
1- Photos with malware
2- Fake charitable organizations
3- Illegitimate websites
4- Insurance scams
5- Identity thieves
Here's What The Hurricane Sandy Scams Will Look LikeHere's What The Hurricane Sandy Scams Will Look Like
Sad reality.
Sandy Scams: Be on Alert and Let Us HelpSandy Scams: Be on Alert and Let Us Help
Superstorm Sandy is expected to surpass Hurricane Irene in insurance losses, topping more than $4 billion in expected claims.
Beware, East Coast residents: Some of the people offering to help you clean up the superstorm's debris may actually be scam artists looking to clean you out instead, officials warn. --HuffingtonPost
What To Know About Hurricane ScamsWhat To Know About Hurricane Scams
Beware, East Coast residents: Some of the people offering to help you clean up the superstorm's debris may actually be scam artists looki...
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]]>http://storify.com/getcocoon/surviving-sandyhttp://storify.com/getcocoon/surviving-sandyWed, 31 Oct 2012 17:35:03 GMT<![CDATA[Cybersecurity is everyone's business]]>

Be proactive every day!

Storified by Get Cocoon · Wed, Oct 24 2012 07:07:05

National Cyber Security Awareness Month 2012 · Pinterest
Seven ways to stay safe onlineSeven ways to stay safe online
Online security is a subject that just won't seem to go away. Most people are aware of it, and many are broadly aware of some the steps t...
In choosing not to protect ourselves online, we leave not only ourselves, but also anyone we communicate with, wide-open and vulnerable to online attacks. And with the growth of cybercrime in our over connected, always-on society, it’s more important than ever to stay one-step ahead in the security game.
Always create strong passwords for online accounts, and include letters, numbers, and symbols.
Universal Man In The Browser Attack Can Take Data From Any Website | TechWeekEurope UKUniversal Man In The Browser Attack Can Take Data From Any Website | TechWeekEurope UK
Man in the Browser attacks have become even nastier, Trusteer warns A dangerous Man in the Browser (MitB) attack has been spotted, and se...
“This attack can target victims of new infections as well as machines that were previously infected by updating the existing malware with a new configuration. The data stolen by uMitB malware is stored in a portal where it is organised and sold.”
Increase in drive-by attacks and infected emailsIncrease in drive-by attacks and infected emails
1
On an international scale, well-known and popular brands were used as a pretense for malware dissemination and drive-by attacks. In addition to social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Facebook, that also included Microsoft as well as the US consumer protection organization Better Business Bureau.
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]]>http://storify.com/getcocoon/cybersecurity-is-everyone-s-businesshttp://storify.com/getcocoon/cybersecurity-is-everyone-s-businessWed, 24 Oct 2012 14:07:05 GMT<![CDATA[Generation Y]]>

A generation where real and digital lives merge...

Storified by Get Cocoon · Fri, Aug 17 2012 11:41:51

Gen Y Cap Partners meeting · Antonia418
10 Online Security Tips for Gen Y10 Online Security Tips for Gen Y
Skyler King is product leader for ZoneAlarm, a Check Point Software Technologies consumer business, and maker of ZoneAlarm antivirus and ...
1. Get back to the basics
2. Don't be click happy
3. Pay attention to the latest social changes
4. Create strong passwords
5. Keep security software on, when gaming
6. Don't use P2P sites or download pirated software
7. Be wary of social engineering attacks
8. Choose your friends carefully
9. Use caution when downloading videos
10. Use protection at public Wi-Fi hotspots
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]]>http://storify.com/getcocoon/generation-yhttp://storify.com/getcocoon/generation-yFri, 17 Aug 2012 18:41:51 GMT