- by Michaela Acebedo
Most people often think of the police as those whose job it is to protect citizens from criminals and also to make sure our communities are safe. Coming into this class this was my idea of the police, and through our conversations of “what is policing; who are the police?,” I have seen how policing expands much more than the police force on the streets. One area of policing that I found very interesting from our lectures was the use of market surveillance. I use my debit and ATM cards on a daily basis and never even think that the machines at the stores I am using my cards, could have the potential to be leaked into by cyber criminals. Following the various security breaches at stores such as Target and Newman Marcus, has made me realize that I am running a risk as I use my cards at any department store and there is a need for greater policing against these data breaches.
In an article I came across this week titled “Cyber-security expert: Target case is 'watershed moment',” it discusses the need for the United States Congress to take action and create stronger security standards to avoid further security breaches. This past holiday season 110 million Americans were affected by the security breach at Target, the largest incident in over a decade. This incident allowed for the media to publicize and bring to light an area of policing that needs to be expanded, in order to protect American consumers. This Monday, the Secret Service, which has been leading the investigations of the breaches at Target and other retailers, testified before the Senate Banking Subcommittee. I think it is critical that Congress is taking the steps to ensure that these security breaches do not occur, but also finding better ways to protect the personal information of Americans. As consumers we often don’t realize the amount of trust we give to credit card companies through each swipe of our cards including access to our addresses, phone numbers, and emails, which can easily be used for identity theft. We believe that credit card companies will keep our information safe, but the recent security breaches have tested this belief.
I think it is important that federal laws should keep stronger regulations on credit card companies and payment security corporations, because as technology improves there becomes more ways for hackers to have access to our personal information. Personally as a consumer hearing that companies I frequently shop at and trusted have had security breaches, now makes me double think the usage of my ATM and credit cards at these stores. While now carrying cards is a convenience to customers instead of using cash, this convenience comes with a loss of security and a new avenue for criminal activity to occur. How do you feel about the recent security breaches? Will you be checking your bank accounts and credit-card accounts more often?
I agree that it is significant to protect citizens’ bank accounts and personal data. However, I have some concerns regarding your claim for the introduction of stronger regulations on credit card companies. Practically any extra security mechanism will lead to the increase of transaction fees and will eventually result in the rise of costs of products and services. I believe that current security mechanisms for the online commerce such as data encryption, website certificates and the third-party payment systems are adequate enough. We should seek to find the right balance between security, costs and convenience of the online trade.
ReplyDeleteAlexander Solodovnikov
Michaela, you have presented great arguments about the use of credit cards is a gateway to giving out our private information to companies. Your post makes me realize the trust relationship between the consumers, like you and me, and large companies, like Target, Macy's, among others. When we use our credit cards to buy the products, we are exposing a valuable piece of information that provides access to our addresses, financial situation, bank accounts (as you have aforementioned). As consumers, we seldom reach the realization that our information would be hacked or breached or stolen or lost because we have trusted the large companies are protected with fire-walls, credit security, and most importantly, equipped with the latest surveillance technology that deters any and all cyber-hackers. To be more specific, having read Overseers of the Poor, John Gilliom addresses the development of stricter regulations and policies for surveillance as more people become more involved in the economy. As a result, the "Quality Control" movement (30) and the use of CRIS-E (32) impose stricter regulations to ensure the security and protection of the consumers. Like the Quality Control program, it scrutinized surveillance for fraud control. These practices are essential to prevent the breaches, as stated in your post, and the ability for cyber-hackers to steal private information.
ReplyDelete-Jiajun (Michael) Huang.
Conversations such as these on security breaches and privacy make me contemplate what we consider when we ask companies for our privacy. Yes, corporations should have to keep our financial information (credit card and bank account numbers) confidential. Never would we give those pieces of information to a stranger. But why do we get upset when our names, phone numbers and email addresses get hacked? That type of information is readily given out by ourselves to strangers on business cards, on resumes, in signatures on emails and via social media sites such as facebook. Can we hold companies to an expectation of privacy that we do not keep for ourselves?
ReplyDelete- Colleen Johnson, Section 102
There is a serious push by big companies to keep our swipe card system. They don't want to pay for new "chip and pin" style credit cards that Europe uses! Even though Europe has been using this for a rather long time now, many business and banks choose to keep to the old system. In order to switch, banks will have to issue new cards, and stores will have to pay for new registers that will read the "chip and pin" cards. This is a cost they do not want to pay.
ReplyDeleteWe know we have to do something to keep our information secure. Companies like Google have tried to fix this problem by acting like a middle man. Has anyone hear heard of Google Wallet? A lot of people haven't heard about this because the banks and business show heavy resistance against using it because of excuses as "it's not secure" or "customers don't like change. The way it works is you upload your credit card information on google wallet and when you walk into a store that accepts payment by google wallet, you take you phone out of your wallet, put in your pin on the phone screen and tap it to the NFC (near field communication) receiver. Bam, you've justed paid. Not only can you track your purchases from your phone, it is 100% safe. According to Google Wallet's website "Google Wallet never shares the full credit and debit card info you store in your Wallet with any merchant, online or offline." This means your information is safe... but only as far as you can trust Google's servers.
It's definitely a lot to think about. Will updating all our information to a secure server be the answer to all these security breaches? Or is it just exasperating the problem. Google Wallet's free nature means it uses your location to direct you to coupons for stores nearby. You are able to upload your Walgreens membership card onto Google Wallet as well. Even if you're information is secure, someone gets to watch.
It's nice to think about the other methods of transactions other than the regular swipe or chip and pin. Maybe all this brainstorming will lead to a better solution in the future.
-Tina Truong
Despite the threat of security posed among target customers, I believe that the target breach happened recently has some advantages. First reason, this phenomenon has awakened our minds how vulnerable we are to cyber hackers. Second, it increases our awareness that we should be more informed about our real privacy rights. Lastly, it made us see the flaw in our market system and question the government actions with regards to protecting each individual’s identity and financial information. I agree to the author that these recent breaches have changed our behavior in using debit or credit cards. People pay more attention to their bank statements especially those young adults who have not been exposed to this type of market incident. Also, when the author mentioned about the convenience of technology, I remembered when the device called “square” has taken over the businesses of the people. Indeed, this device has resulted for better profits among private businesses. Through this device, private vendors were able to eliminate the complex process and hassle transaction with VISA and other ATM companies. Also, the device square has been very convenient for those customers who forgot to bring cash or not able to bring cash. Indeed, they can just swipe through that square device and they will be charged immediately. However, this convenience can be dangerous for both parties especially among customers. As the author pointed out, it is an addition to lack of security and people have become more susceptible to cyber-criminal activity. Furthermore, I also want to point out how target breaches made a significant impact among banks and retail companies. I was actually amazed how I have been letter from my bank and asking me to sign again and reread my terms agreements and privacy policy with them. I’ve been in their company for three years, but this is the only year I received that letter where I can review my privacy rights physically. Indeed, this blog has made me thought how the target customers were unfortunately became a victim of identity theft, but this sacrifice of privacy and security loss has brought market surveillance awareness that pressures the government that they should now how intervene and regulate the business handling of corporations and private markets.
ReplyDelete