Your own personalised stalker
It always seemed slightly creepy that your computer shows advertising that is strangely accurately targeted at things you might have been interested in. On the surface, that seems quite useful. If you have to tolerate ads on your screen, at least having them show things you were interested in seems helpful.
Instead, we wonder how the system knows. It feels like a breach of our privacy.
It all starts when you install an app, and it pops up a question asking for permission to use your location, and/or your camera and/or your microphone.
This is useful for advertisers. For example, they can use your location. If the app reports this back to the content provider, they can match up your location and compare you to other people nearby. If you tend to go to the same places as other people, you are probably interested in the same things, so an advertiser might use that assumption to present advertising to you, or other people that you spend time with.
That does sound a bit overreaching, but we reluctantly agree to the presented terms simply because we want to use the app. If that is a condition of use, and we want to use the app, then we agree.
So, now we are seeing consumers getting the choice to push back.
Apple
Now, with iOS15, Apple are saying that you will get to see what apps are accessing your data. You will be able to see when an app used that permission, and there it was sent to. Whether that list of third party sites is any use or not is meaningful is unclear.
Not quite as advanced but following quickly behind is Google Android. With Android 12, you will have the option to de-personalise your data. They will still track usage, but won’t link it back to you.
Is there any truth to the rumour that your phone or TV is listening to you, and presented content based on private conversations it overhears?
Given how poor the voice recognition is on phones , cars, or tools like Alexa or Siri, its pretty evident this can’t be reality. If it, is, then heaven only knows what it thinks it’s hearing. The voice recognition tools are getting better all the time, but there is a long way to go.
Easter Eggs aren’t always chocolate
Computer folk love to hide secret 'features' in their code. Normally we reckon these are bugs. But sometimes they are just fun. They are just hidden gems that add a bit of fun, and they're called Easter Eggs. There is a fine tradition of these in popular games,...
A new look for Kinetics
[header2 text="We've listened!" align="center" color="#3ec940" margintop=""] Our client's have told us they love what we do, but our brand is tired. So we're changing it. We've refreshed our logo, and our website - and over the next few weeks we'll work through all...
Introducing Skype for Business
Lync's becoming Skype for Business. It combines the friendliness and familiarity of Skype with the functionality of Lync. It''ll mean that Skype, and Skype for Business will work seamlessly together (although obviously the business version has more capabilities,...
RIP Microsoft Server 2003
Back in 2003 it was unheard of to have email on your mobile phone, in fact it would be another 4 years till the iPhone made its appearance. Aptly named for its time, Server 2003 made it appearance. Since then it has had a great run and if we counted computer years...
Keep your email password safe!
One of the most common irritants in modern computing is being asked to change your password. But it is important, especially your email password. Let me explain… Learning your email address is easy. If I can work out your password, then I can log into pretty much...
Power Outage Lesson
The recent power outage has again reminded us how much we depend on infrastructure over which we have little control. Our Penrose office was in the black out area for most of Sunday. Back in olden times, communication equipment was housed in a telephone exchange. ...
Cryptolocker – Ransoming your data!
Many of us have heard of spyware or malware, programs that try to sell you unnecessary software or pry your credit card details from you. In the last few months we have seen an alarming increase in what is being called ransomware. How are users affected? CryptoLocker...
Create Keyboard Shortcuts for the iPad and iPhone (iOS 7)
It’s getting easier to enter text on mobile devices but there are times when you quickly need to enter a few words or phrase you use often. For example, how many times have you needed to tell someone “On my way”? Once you’ve tried keyboard shortcuts in iPad you’ll...