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U.S. cyber officials give holiday shopping advice. The Department of Homeland Security published informational materials on its website and plans to release additional resources over the next month, the WSJ reports. Consumers are forecast to spend as much as $9.4 billion on Cyber Monday, according to Adobe Analytics. DHS advises the following:
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Check your internet-connected devices. Review the privacy and security settings, and remember to change default passwords and regularly update software.
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Stick to reputable retailers. Look out for malicious websites that mimic legitimate retailers.
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Keep your purchases secure. Don’t provide sensitive information over email, such as your credit card number. Frequently review your credit card and bank statements for any fraudulent changes.
Uber’s ‘dirty little secret’: shared driver accounts. London’s decision to revoke Uber Technologies Inc.’s operating license opens a window into what drivers say has been a relatively common practice of sharing or renting out driver accounts at a number of ride-hailing apps, the WSJ reports. Several drivers for Uber and other ride-hailing apps, in London and elsewhere, say the practice of account sharing is an open secret, discussed in private groups on social media or on messaging apps used by drivers. Uber says account sharing is an issue globally, including in the U.S.
Unauthorized drivers: Account sharing “is a dirty little secret” among American drivers, said Bryant Greening, co-founder of LegalRideshare LLC, a personal-injury law firm in Chicago representing Uber and other ride-share drivers nationwide.
'Nefarious' reasons: People who rent accounts and cars from Uber drivers do so in most cases because they lack a driver’s license, would likely fail a background check or can’t afford a car, said Harry Campbell, a former Uber driver and author of the Rideshare Guy blog. “Usually the reasons are nefarious,” he said. Transport for London, the city’s main transportation regulator, said last week it determined 14,000 Uber rides in late 2018 and early 2019 weren’t conducted by authorized drivers, but by others who had been able to substitute their photos to use a real driver’s account.
Ordered by Singapore, Facebook posts a correction. Facebook Inc. added a “correction notice” to a post that Singapore authorities alleged contains false information, becoming the first technology company to comply with a new law the government says is meant to curb fake news, the WSJ reports.
The notice: Appearing near the bottom of a post from earlier this month, the notice reads, “Facebook is legally required to tell you that the Singapore government says this post has false information.” The government had ordered the notice Friday on the post, which alleges authorities had made a wrongful arrest. The government said no such arrest had been made. News Corp, owner of The Wall Street Journal, has a commercial agreement to supply news through Facebook.
Senate Democrats float privacy bill, but bipartisan deal remains elusive. The bill led by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D., Wash.), the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee, aims to give consumers more say over information collected about them online and would impose new responsibilities on companies to prevent privacy violations. Big companies across various industries want a federal privacy bill to pre-empt California’s privacy law, which goes into effect Jan. 1. They say setting state-by-state rules for online privacy will raise costs, the
WSJ reports. Ms. Cantwell said talks with Republicans will continue and she hopes the bill will serve as Democrats’ starting position in more detailed negotiations.
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