Virtual Shadows
Your Privacy in the Information Society
Karen Lawrence Öqvist (author)UK Price: £14.99 EU Price: €19.99 ROW (USD) Price: $24.99 ISBN: 9781906124090
Format: Paperback
Publication date: 05 JAN 2009
About the book:
A fascinating glimpse into the world of Web 2.0 set against a backdrop of endemic surveillance and tracking in the real world. Social networking, government databases, online shopping and loyalty cards have all generated vast amounts of personal data. As goverment and commercial organisations develop new technologies to share and exploit (and sometimes lose) this information, this book reveals the impact this is having on our privacy and security, and provides practical information as to how we can safeguard our identity and protect our children in the information society.
".....a unique and compelling view of engagement and privacy in the information age." Professor Fred Piper, Information Security Group, Royal Holloway
About the Author(s):
Karen Lawrence Öqvist is a Security Solution Architect for Hewlett-Packard. She holds a masters in Information Security (2004) and is a member of the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA).
Review(s):
'... a sobering discussion of recent trends in information gathering and usage which highlights both the potential risks and possible advantages in the amount of information being gathered and used by governments and private entities. In general the book is very readable and provides a balanced view of the issues. The discussions of how and why we willingly share our data and the way it gets used are well informed and interesting. - IT Now magazine
This book is as suitable for a general audience as much as for information security or web professionals and is written in a very readable style. We are introduced to the concepts behind social networking and web 2.0 and their impact on our privacy and everyday lives. Good advice is given on maintaining some separation between work colleagues, online friends and limiting information available to different types of Facebook friend.
With Safer Internet Day on 10 February rightly focussing us on the importance of ensuring that our students are aware of the dangers and how to mitigate them this recently published book is an excellent addition to my desk. Karen Lawrence Öqvist is a security specialist for HP, and as such has not directly aimed this book at the education market which given the examples in it is a pity, and I'm glad I came across a copy. One finds in this easy to read book many case studies and examples of a wide range of personal security issues when using the internet, as well as many tips on how to avoid them. There are four sections to the book: The Online Information Society; Having Fun Safely Online; Children's Safety; and issues with National Safety. All are covered in succinct data and give plenty of good and not so good examples of how each can be abused, and some simple tips on how not to be. I found it useful in bringing together things that I do cover in my teaching but often have to look up separately to make sure I have useful pertinent facts. Here a lot is covered within the 200 pages, with plenty of UK and international examples. It is written in a style and manner that make it a useful book for sixth-form students (16 18 year olds) to read by themselves, as well as being one to pick out tit-bits as examples to share in the class at KS3 to KS5 level (11-18 year olds).
Recommended read to cure oneself of the online phobia. - D. Murali. The Hindu
Table of Contents:
1 Introduction
2 The Online Information Society
3 Having Fun Safely Online: Some Golden Rules
4 Your Children’s Online Safety
5 All in the Name of National Safety
6 Our Choice of Future
Notes
References and Further Reading
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