The September 29th technology segment on CTV News Channel suggested an email browsing practice which has security implications. No mention of any potential security implications was mentioned on the segment, so I’ve written the following email to them.
Dear CTV News Channel,
I am writing about the tech segment with Marcia MacMillan interviewing Marc Saltzman. He suggested that it is more efficient to navigate Blackberry emails using the previous and next hotkeys, however, he did not say anything about the security implications of this practice.
Opening an email can automatically activate content contained within it. Spam can include tracking code or pictures that confirm a user has opened an email, leading to more spam going to that now known address. Emails that are opened can automatically activate viruses. Although Blackberry viruses are purported to be rare, they are not impossible, and it is better to have good security habits now in case they become more prevalent in the future.
Also, good or bad security habits on a Blackberry could transfer to a user’s computer habits. If someone gets used to just skimming through emails with the previous and next hotkeys, opening the email without examining the subject, they might start doing the same on a Windows PC. An email that might not affect a Blackberry could do far more damage to a computer.
Efficiency and security can be at odds, and sometimes there is a fine line between practical and paranoid, but I believe technology segments such as this should include an examination of pertinent security issues, so that the public has some information with which to make their choice between efficiency and security, and to realize that they are making such a choice.
Regards,
Gus Webb
gnote.ca
Blackberry Browsing – An Open Letter to CTV News Channel
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009The September 29th technology segment on CTV News Channel suggested an email browsing practice which has security implications. No mention of any potential security implications was mentioned on the segment, so I’ve written the following email to them.
Dear CTV News Channel,
I am writing about the tech segment with Marcia MacMillan interviewing Marc Saltzman. He suggested that it is more efficient to navigate Blackberry emails using the previous and next hotkeys, however, he did not say anything about the security implications of this practice.
Opening an email can automatically activate content contained within it. Spam can include tracking code or pictures that confirm a user has opened an email, leading to more spam going to that now known address. Emails that are opened can automatically activate viruses. Although Blackberry viruses are purported to be rare, they are not impossible, and it is better to have good security habits now in case they become more prevalent in the future.
Also, good or bad security habits on a Blackberry could transfer to a user’s computer habits. If someone gets used to just skimming through emails with the previous and next hotkeys, opening the email without examining the subject, they might start doing the same on a Windows PC. An email that might not affect a Blackberry could do far more damage to a computer.
Efficiency and security can be at odds, and sometimes there is a fine line between practical and paranoid, but I believe technology segments such as this should include an examination of pertinent security issues, so that the public has some information with which to make their choice between efficiency and security, and to realize that they are making such a choice.
Regards,
Gus Webb
gnote.ca
Posted in Commentary, Technology | No Comments »