Privacy Lost: How Technology Is Endangering Your Privacy

An insider's exposé of the world of technology and how it's putting our privacy at risk.

The Patriot Act, government eavesdropping, the distribution of our most personal information...recent security breaches have affected millions of Americans' privacy. But who controls this information about us and what are they doing with it? This question touches almost every aspect of our lives — from control over our finances and identities to the (assumed) basic rights to keep our thoughts, actions, medical histories, whereabouts, and other personal information to ourselves.

While other books in the field focus on the legal aspects of privacy issues, Holtzman presents the technological and social angles. He outlines a seven-part framework into which most privacy violation can be categorized, explains exactly how privacy is being eroded, reveals the dangers associated with the loss of privacy, and takes a realistic look at the tradeoffs between privacy and such vital issues as security, medical safety, and economic growth.

"Whether we know it or not, we have all become citizens of the Digital Age. As such we need to take responsibility for our conduct, our safety, and our privacy. David Holtzman is deeply knowledgeable about the industry and passionate about the issues. Regardless of your political views, you will come away from this book better equipped to meet the challenges before us all." Geoffrey A. Moore, author, Dealing with Darwin: How Great Companies Innovate at Every Phase of Their Evolution

"Holtzman has drafted a blueprint all citizens of this great land ought to read if they desire to understand what privacy truly means, why it is important to both their everyday life as well as to their understanding of what it really means to be free, and what they can do to salvage what little privacy is left them. Privacy Lost needs to be readily available onthe desks of all concerned citizens — heavily dog-eared and underlined." Bob Barr, practicing attorney and former Member of theUnited States House of Representatives

"As society struggles to understand how technology is impacting privacy, David Holtzman's ideas and vision continue to be central to the discussion. This book helps us understand what's at stake." Andreas S. Weigend, former chief scientist, Amazon.com, and principal, Weigend Associates

"At a time when the Berlin Wall and Communism stood strong against the world and the Soviet Union tried to outpace the United States in an unprecedented arms race, a small group of select professionals performed the analysis required to combat the latest weapons technology and helped to bring an end to that cold war. I am proud to tell you that Dave Holtzman was a key member of that unique group who could never be openly recognized for what they did or how they did it." Mark E. Clesh, National Security Agency, Defsmac Intel Director

"Holtzman includes samples of stories from newspapers and magazines of privacy violations, as well as an overview of the gadgets that trace our every movement, from cell phones to global positioning systems, police surveillance cameras, and chips that can be hidden in books and clothing." Booklist

--Bob Barr, practicing attorney and former Member of theUnited States House of Representatives

The Patriot Act, government eavesdropping, the distribution of our most personal information—recent security breaches and marketing?related invasions have affected the privacy of millions of Americans. So who has access to this information about us and what exactly are they doing with it? This question touches almost every aspect of our lives—from control over our finances and identities to the (assumed) basic right to keep our thoughts, actions, medical histories, whereabouts, and other personal information to ourselves.

We can not afford to ignore this issue. This book will help us all understand what is at risk in the Digital Age, who the perpetrators are, what we can do about it, and how and why, to some extent, our privacy is already lost.

"As society struggles to understand how technology is impacting privacy, David Holtzman's ideas and vision continue to be central to the discussion. This book helps us understand what's at stake."

—Andreas S. Weigend, former chief scientist, Amazon.com, and principal, Weigend Associates

"At a time when the Berlin Wall and Communism stood strong against the world and the Soviet Union tried to outpace the United States in an unprecedented arms race, a small group of select professionals performed the analysis required to combat the latest weapons technology and helped to bring an end to that cold war. I am proud to tell you that Dave Holtzman was a key member of that unique group who could never be openly recognized for what they did or how they did it."

—Mark E. Clesh, National Security Agency, Defsmac Intel Director

While other books in the field focus on specific aspects of privacy or how to avoid invasions, David H. Holtzman—a master technologist, internet pioneer, security analyst, and former military codebreaker—presents a comprehensive insider's exposé of the world of invasive technology, who's using it, and how our privacy is at risk. Holtzman starts out by categorizing privacy violations into "The 7 Sins Against Privacy" and then goes on to explain in compelling and easy to understand language exactly how privacy is being eroded in every aspect of our lives.

Holtzman vividly reveals actual invasions and the dangers associated with the loss of privacy, and he takes a realistic look at the trade offs between privacy and such vital issues as security, rights, and economic development.

Praise for Privacy Lost

"Whether we know it or not, we have all become citizens of the Digital Age. As such we need to take responsibility for our conduct, our safety, and our privacy. David Holtzman is deeply knowledgeable about the industry and passionate about the issues. Regardless of your political views, you will come away from this book better equipped to meet the challenges before us all."

—Geoffrey A. Moore, author, Dealing with Darwin: How Great Companies Innovate at Every Phase of Their Evolution

"Holtzman has drafted a blueprint all citizens of this great land ought to read if they desire to understand what privacy truly means, why it is important to both their everyday life as well as to their understanding of what it really means to be free, and what they can do to salvage what little privacy is left them. Privacy Lost needs to be readily available on the desks of all concerned citizens—heavily dog-eared and underlined."

—Bob Barr, practicing attorney and former Member of theUnited States House of Representatives

David H. Holtzman (Herndon, VA) is a former security analyst and military codebreaker, a futurist, activist, technologist, and writer. He runs a popular blog, www.GlobalPOV.com, where he comments and reports on business, political, and tech issues around the world and discusses privacy, identity, and intellectual property.

Foreword (Senator Evan Bayh).

Preface: The Monkey House.

Acknowledgments.

Introduction: How and Why Our Privacy Is at Risk.

Privacy Invasions Hurt.

1. The Seven Sins Against Privacy.

2. Collateral Damage: The Harm to Society.

Why Technology Is Key.

3. Technology Affects Privacy: How and Why.

4. New Tech, New Crimes: Fresh Wounds.

Privacy in Context.

5. Privacy and the Law: A Right Ahead or Left Behind?

6. Privacy and Identity: The Cult of Me.

7. Privacy and Culture in a Technological World: Shoji Screens.

The Technology.

8. Voyeurism: Surveillance Technology.

9. Stalking: Networks, Tags, and Locators.

The Watchers.

10. Marketing Invasions: Garbos and Greed.

11. Government Invasions for Security: Mugwumps and Momists.

What Can Be Done?

12. Fighting Back: Gandhis, Curmudgeons, and Vigilantes.

13. The Panopticon: See the Bars, Rattle the Cage.

Recommended Reading.

Notes.

Index.

The Author.