How Protecting Children Online Created a Privacy Nightmare for Everyone
The UK's Online Safety Act forces millions to hand over passport photos and selfies to private companies just to access games and social media. These companies have poor security records and often transfer your identity documents overseas without proper safeguards. Recent breaches prove this creates "honeypots" for hackers rather than protecting children, while tech-savvy kids bypass checks with VPNs. The government could solve this with a token system like DVLA share-codes, but refuses to admit their approach is fundamentally flawed.
Data Breach Today, Your Problem Tomorrow: Why Victims Deserve More Than Apologies
When your data is stolen in a breach, the company gets fined, but you’re left picking up the pieces. This blog explores the need for a Digital FSCS: a restitution fund for breach victims, inspired by real-world failures and systemic neglect. Includes a free template letter you can send to your MP to call for change.
Drag, Drop, Disclose: When Convenience Clouds Consent
Cloud-based PDF converters offer instant convenience—but at what cost? This post explores how services like Adobe’s drag-and-drop PDF tool may store, analyse, or profile your data without clear warning or consent. Learn what this means under UK GDPR, what your rights are, and how to stay in control of your files.
🏥 When Trust Gets Hacked, What the M&S Breach Tells Us About Modern Retail Risk
In the wake of the M&S data breach, it’s clear retailers are still collecting excessive personal data while offering little accountability when things go wrong. This post explores the real risk to consumers, regulatory shortcomings, and why it's time for a digital FSCS-style safety net.
Your Data, Their Portal — The Hidden Risks of Digital Patient Forms
More and more dental and GP practices are asking patients to fill in online forms — often using third-party platforms. But do you really know who sees your data, where it goes, or how long it’s kept? I took a closer look... and it raised more questions than answers.
How Anonymous is Anonymous?
With the Internet of Things, companies and researchers are finding innovative ways to collect and process data about our habits, thoughts, desires, usage and even what we search for on […]
Challenge and Response
As we are becoming more aware of the importance of data privacy, it strikes me as odd that organisations are not doing as much as they should to help protect […]
www.muckypaws.com 