Privacy and Security

‘Revenge porn’: Putting victims back in control

- Jacqueline Beauchere - Microsoft Chief Online Safety Officer

When someone shares intimate images of another person online without that person’s consent, the effects can be truly devastating. These gross violations of privacy are commonly (and unartfully) referred to as “revenge porn.” Unfortunately, revenge porn is on the rise across the globe. It can damage nearly every aspect of a victim’s life: relationships, career, social activities. In the most severe and tragic cases, it has even led to suicide. Read more »

Every Child Achieves Act will improve access to K-12 STEM learning nationwide

- Fred Humphries - Corporate Vice President of U.S. Government Affairs for Microsoft in Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Senate this week completed work on a major education overhaul that will increase access to STEM learning nationwide. We applaud the leadership of HELP Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) for ushering through legislation on a strong, bipartisan basis that advances some of the goals outlined in Microsoft’s National Talent Strategy. Specifically, the Every Child Achieves Act includes: A provision offered by Sen. Al Read more »

June is Internet Safety Month – Get involved

- Jacqueline Beauchere - Microsoft Chief Online Safety Officer
privacy, online safety

Dedicated to promoting online safety, June presents a unique opportunity for youth and parents to become better “digital citizens,” and to protect themselves and others from potentially harmful online content and activities, including topics that some may prefer to not even acknowledge let alone address. “If you want to reduce (online) risks for children, engage and educate children and their parents,” Michael Sheath of the Lucy Faithfull Foundation last week Read more »

Safety, privacy and the Internet paradox: solutions at hand and the need for new trans-Atlantic rules

- Microsoft Corporate Blogs

Today at the Center for European Policy Studies, Brad Smith, general counsel and executive vice president, legal and corporate affairs, Microsoft, delivered remarks and participated in a panel discussion on the subject of Trust, data and national sovereignty: solutions for a connected world. Other panelists included: Jan Albrecht, Member of the European Parliament Renate Nikolay, Head of Cabinet, Vĕra Jourová’s Cabinet, DG Justice, European Commission Michał Boni, Member of the Read more »

Microsoft Innovation & Policy Center offers practical guidance for state and local governments to manage cyber risks

- Michael Wann - Microsoft News Center Staff
Jennifer Byrne, cyber risks

The Microsoft Innovation & Policy Center in Washington, D.C. continued the @Microsoft series in October, National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, with a discussion on practical guidance for state and local governments to manage cyber risks. The event brought together decision-makers from state and local governments, the administration, and industry experts who confront cyber threats every day, to address the unique challenges they face, as well to provide information on resources and Read more »

Four in 10 Americans face regular online fraud attacks: Microsoft survey

- Microsoft Corporate Blogs

Four in 10 people in the U.S. report experiencing weekly and even daily attempts via their personal computers to access their personal information and other valuable data, results of a new Microsoft survey show. Across the range of electronic devices people use today, consumers worry most about their PCs being compromised — and for good reason: 42 percent of Americans report experiencing weekly and even daily efforts by criminals to Read more »

Microsoft to introduce features to protect Windows Phone users

- Microsoft Corporate Blogs

Over recent months, Microsoft has been working with others in the wireless industry to develop voluntary principles for implementing more robust theft-deterrent technologies in smartphones. As a result of this work, Microsoft signed on to CTIA’s Smartphone Anti-Theft Voluntary Commitment in April, and today we are able to confirm that we will meet these commitments before the CTIA goal of July 2015. To do this, the current capabilities of the Read more »

Envisioning cyberspace in 2025

- Microsoft Corporate Blogs

On Monday, Microsoft released a new report entitled “Cyberspace 2025: Today’s Decisions, Tomorrow’s Terrain” that looks beyond today’s technological trends to anticipate future catalysts for change in cyberspace. Cloud computing, the Internet of Things, big data and cybersecurity loom large on today’s—and tomorrow’s—agenda. In the report is a Cyber 2025 Model, developed to determine potential cyber trends, as well as revealing several interesting projections about the future of cyberspace. For Read more »

The key to a secure cyberspace: Speed and resilience

- Microsoft Corporate Blogs

Organizations of all types today face a daily and growing assault from nation states, lone actors and organized crime. The effects of a cyber-attack can be as far-reaching, troublesome and significant as physical attacks, and can make or break organizations that are not sufficiently prepared. The question is, how can an organization embed cyber security into its suite of core business functions? Tom Ridge, the first secretary of the U.S. Read more »

Microsoft, experts gather for Global Privacy Summit in Washington, D.C.

- Microsoft Corporate Blogs

This week is particularly exciting for the many people at Microsoft who focus on data privacy. Several of us will attend the annual Global Privacy Summit in Washington, D.C., hosted by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). It is a week for privacy professionals from around the world to convene and discuss the big topics that industry, civil society and governments work on collectively to advance the state of Read more »