Latest spying revelation has implications beyond gaming. Start using two factor authentication where possible.

Spy agencies in covert push to infiltrate virtual world of online gaming - NSA and GCHQ collect gamers' chats and deploy real-life agents into World of Warcraft and Second Life:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/09/nsa-spies-online-games-world-warcraft-second-life

"…The agencies, the documents show, have built mass-collection capabilities against the Xbox Live console network, which has more than 48 million players. Real-life agents have been deployed into virtual realms, from those Orc hordes in World of Warcraft to the human avatars of Second Life. There were attempts, too, to recruit potential informants from the games' tech-friendly users. …"

 

We're in a period of great change.  Many social media sites are offering more protection via "Two Factor" authentication while at the same time using our information to generate revenue through advertising:

https://blog.twitter.com/2013/getting-started-with-login-verification

http://www.techhive.com/article/2057237/keep-your-microsoft-account-safer-with-two-factor-authentication.html

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2036252/how-to-set-up-two-factor-authentication-for-facebook-google-microsoft-and-more.html

 

Facebook moved ahead Friday with changes to its privacy policies that make it clear that the company can include users' profile pictures, location and other personal information in advertisements:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/facebook-makes-changes-to-its-data-use-policies/2013/11/15/0107eab4-4e2f-11e3-be6b-d3d28122e6d4_story.html

http://www.informationweek.com/10-most-misunderstood-facebook-privacy-facts/d/d-id/898873

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/05/11/linkedin-updates-privacy-policy-to-let-in-advertis.aspx

https://support.twitter.com/articles/20170407-faqs-about-tailored-ads-and-your-privacy-controls#

 

Several social networking & tech companies are urging governments to reform their spying policies, but we don't yet know if this is just a marketing effort or something with real teeth.  Interestingly, none of the telecomm companies are on this list:

http://reformgovernmentsurveillance.com/

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/09/technology/tech-giants-issue-call-for-limits-on-government-surveillance-of-users.html?pagewanted=all

http://venturebeat.com/2013/12/08/tech-wants-reform/

 

Related articles:

State of Deception - Why won't the President rein in the intelligence community?

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/12/16/131216fa_fact_lizza?currentPage=all

Angry Over U.S. Surveillance, Tech Giants Bolster Defenses:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/01/technology/angry-over-us-surveillance-tech-giants-bolster-defenses.html

"Google has spent months and millions of dollars encrypting email, search queries and other information flowing among its data centers worldwide. Facebook's chief executive said at a conference this fall that the government "blew it." And though it has not been announced publicly, Twitter plans to set up new types of encryption to protect messages from snoops."

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