Delete is a word built into the vocabulary of users from the beginning of personal computing. When commanded to “del,” an operating system appeared to erase a file completely. However, right from the start, a user’s commonsense understanding of the command to “delete” differed from companies’ practices; rather than erasing a file, “delete” meant “put […]

How hacking automotive vehicles, medical devices, voting machines, and internet of things devices makes them safer. Security researchers and security research are commonly referred to, respectively, as “hackers” and “hacking.” Such words can bring negative connotations to mind, such as hoodie-wearing miscreants in dark rooms lit only by the glow of a computer monitor. This […]

Advocates have long demanded that companies notify users of how they use personal data. By increasing transparency in an opaque technical system, users are more able to make informed choices about what services to use. Most of the information about a company’s practices is listed in a privacy policy; however, substantial research and arguments have […]