Case Studies...
Below are our articles on the subject of Case Studies. If you can't see what you are looking for our other categories are displayed on the left under 'Our Quick Links'...
A New Task Force on Privacy
What is the Commission on Privacy all about?...
An Example of a Data Protection Act Enquiry
How to make an enquiry under the data protection act....
Banks and Your Data: Why it's Still Getting Lost
What are the major problems with banks mis-handling customer information?...
Big Business and Wikileaks
Wikileaks doesn't just expose governmental and political secrets - some big businesses have information they'd prefer to keep hidden, and are going to great lengths to keep it that way....
Biometric Scanning And Your Privacy
Look at the whorls on your index finger. Every fingerprint is almost entirely unique – that’s why they’ve been dusted for crime detection for more than a century. Technology is moving on. Biometric ...
Can Comments Made in Counselling Be Added to Medical Record?
If a counsellor has recorded inaccurate information and disclosed it to a third party, what can you do?...
Can I Use CCTV to Record Meetings in my Home?
Nearly all cases of recording of data using CCTV are covered by the Data Protection Act but there are certain exemptions that exist for using CCTV in the home....
Can My Employer Demand to See My Facebook?
Can an employee complain if her manager shows people her facebook page?...
CCTV Cameras And Your Privacy
How many CCTV cameras have you walked past today? If you’ve been shopping, caught a bus or train, driven anywhere, or visited a new housing estate, you’ve probably been snapped. Look out. Big Broth...
Computer Monitoring In The Workplace and Your Privacy
There are many ways an employed can undertake monitoring of staff in the workplace, but how much is too much and what privacy do you have?...
Credit and Privacy: FAQ
There are many misconceptions about credit, and the type of information that people hold about you, so it pays to ask a few pertinent questions if you’re in the dark about the subject....
Criminal Records and Privacy
Who can apply to check your criminal record - and what can you find out yourself?...
Data Leaks: Are IT Department to Blame?
If you have staff members working in the IT team, on a laptop, on a Tuesday afternoon - keep an eye on them!...
Data Protection Act Privacy Notices: What Are They?
The latest updates to the Privacy Notices you see on Data Protection Act statements - protect your information!...
Disposing of Personal Information
Identity theft is the UK’s fastest growing crime. And yet hundreds of thousands of Britons still throw out their bank statements in the rubbish. All that fraudsters need could be right outside your ...
Do Social Networking Sites Violate Your Privacy?
Social networking sites are popular but do they breach privacy laws?...
Do They Have the Right to Use My Photo on Website?
The use of an employee photo on the Internet raises privacy question that, in most cases, are addressed by the Data Protection Act 1998....
Does Neighbour's Camera Contravene Privacy Rights?
The legality of watching neighbours on a digital video camera...
Employee Surveillance
Caught on candid camera? If your employer uses CCTV in the workplace, take care what you say – Big Brother’s watching....
Facebook Security Tips to Keep Your Details Private
Facebook doesn't have to be a free-for-all exchange of personal information. Follow a few rules and you can control your security....
Financial Security and Privacy
Who’s got your credit card number? Well, there’s the man with the device transmitting information from your local ATM, there’s the man in the Indian call centre, and there’s the woman he sold it to l...
Genetic Privacy
Have you ever made a discreet visit to the doctor without telling your family? The diagnosis of a family member with certain conditions could imply risks to your health. But it’s their right to with...
How Do I Prevent My Address Being Traced Via Mobile Number?
It is difficult to prevent people tracing your officially registered mobile phone number but there may be a way round this in your case....
How Mobile Phone Tracking Is Used And How It Affects Your Privacy
Mobile phone tracking is the use of mobile signal masts to identify the location of people and vehicles. How does the government plan to use this new 'Big Brother' style tracking system?...
How to Avoid Stalking
Cyber stalking is a very modern way for people to make your life a misery....
How to Browse the Internet Anonymously
Is it possible to browse the internet anonymously? Do you really need to protect your information while surfing? And who’s watching you anyway? Here is our guide to maintaining your privacy while y...
How to Choose and Protect Your Passwords
Choosing and protecting your passwords doesn't have to be a headache. It's a simple process with complex results- just what you need....
How To Dispose Of Your Personal Information Safely To Avoid Identity Theft
Identity theft is the UK’s fastest growing crime. And yet hundreds of thousands of Britons still throw out their bank statements in the rubbish. All the fraudsters need could be right outside your h...
How to Maintain Privacy in Google Desktop
The new Google Desktop combines desktop and web search functions in one convenient interface. So what’s the problem? It’s got the potential to become a major privacy breach, say the company’s critic...
Human Rights : Your Rights to Privacy
“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” (Universal Declaration of Human Rights) The principle of basic human rights, officiated by the United Nations and recognised all over...
Identity Fraud
Identity fraud is always in the news. According to some sources it’s the UK’s fastest growing crime. But how does it really affect you?...
Insuring Your Identity
Identity fraud is the UK’s fastest-growing crime. Become a victim and the cost of recovering could be in the thousands. Several British companies now offer insurance protecting you against this fina...
Keeping Yourself Safe When Using Chip And Pin Cards
For two years chip and pin cards have been the British standard. Introduced in 2004 to help combat the increase in card fraud, the Chip and Pin card has been under criticism since the very beginning....
Loyalty Cards
Is there a spy in your wallet? If you subscribe to one of the nation’s favourite loyalty cards, you could be giving out more than you bargained for. You get a free bottle of wine twice a year; they ...
Maintaining Personal Privacy
In the electronic age, maintaining privacy becomes an impossible task. Every time you make an online purchase, collect reward points, ring a call centre, or even make a mobile call, your movements ar...
Maintaining Privacy After a Criminal Conviction
If you have a conviction on your record, whether it’s a fine or a prison sentence, you might have to declare it to potential employers and landlords. Maintaining your privacy under these circumstance...
Making a Data Protection Act Enquiry
If you want to find out about something from a public body, there's a procedure that you need to follow....
Mass Surveillance in the UK- The 'Big Brother' Society
How advancements in technology might have had its positive benefits in the UK but what that means in terms of increased surveillance of the UK population as a whole and the implications of that...
Mobiles and Laptops as a Tracking Device
Mobile and laptop technology is one of the most commonly used ways in which a hacker or identity thief will get to your information; we look at how to protect your information and privacy and what to ...
MP3 Player Privacy
MP3 players, essentially micro-computers capable of storing many megabytes of information, pose a growing privacy threat. The Home Secretary is so concerned that he’s asking manufacturers to incorpor...
My Credit Card Details Were Stolen: A Case Study
It's happened to the best of us - what happens when someone steals your card details?...
Myths About Privacy
There are some common myths about your privacy - here's the truth!...
Online Dating Sites and Data Breaches
Online dating security breaches can put your most personal details at risk - so who's been hacked?...
Parental Controls For Internet Use
There are debates about the need for parental control software, but if you choose to use it there’s a wide range of options....
Patient Privacy in the NHS
The NHS cares for most of us at some point in our lives. Patient privacy affects everything from the curtain around your bed to the access to your medical records. How does your Trust protect your p...
Personal Data Blunders in the Uk
The government holds a significant amount of information on all of us - surely they should look after it!...
Personal Email Privacy
Ever received an email about cheap laptops or been bombarded by widowed millionaires from Zimbabwe? Your email account is an easy target for spammers, hackers, phishers, and everyone else in the web ...
Personal Privacy Whilst Shopping
Are you an online shopoholic? Read this first. Handing out your email address, falling foul of an insecure server, or forgetting to tick the box for ‘no further communication’ can all pose threats t...
Privacy From Google
Do you place unlimited trust in Google? When you use a search engine, certain personal details are stored by the server. What exactly do they know about you from your daily searches? And is Google r...
Privacy in Popular Culture
Identity theft is a fascinating story – until it happens to you. If you’re interested in finding out more about privacy crime, look up the following books and films in your local library…...
Privacy When Internet Shopping
Handing out your email address, falling foul of an insecure server, or forgetting to tick the box for ‘no further communication’ can all pose threats to your privacy. Unfortunately, if you succumb to...
Privacy When Moving House
43% of cases of identity theft are linked to a previous address. In spite of this, a quarter of British people fail to take precautions when they move house. If you’re moving, renting, or buying to ...
Protecting Children Online
Children are increasingly susceptible in cyberspace. They may be more technologically savvy than you, but they still need your protection from the dangers lurking online. Don’t underestimate the pro...
Protecting Your In-Car Privacy
Is your car harbouring a government spy? Is your registration number in the hands of a fraudster who wants to break speed laws? To protect your in-car privacy, you need the facts. Here are the secr...
Should My Child's Nursery Be Allowed to Install CCTV?
It’s not clear whether as parents you have the right to object to the installation or the filming, or whether the nursery should have given reasonable notice. It, would however, seem fair to expect th...
Telephone Monitoring at Work
Telephone monitoring in the UK is commonplace. 31% of UK companies keep tabs on numbers dialled by their staff – and 20% don’t tell their staff that they’re being monitored. Are you in that unlucky ...
The Data Protection Act and How It Works
How is your information kept and how can you find out the ways in which it is being used? The Data Protection Act gives you the right to access your information as it is held by others...
The Employers Code of Practice
The Information Commission publishes full legal guidelines on the employee’s right to privacy. This summary covers best practice guidelines for recruiting, monitoring, and keeping information on empl...
The Introduction of ID Cards
The national identity card will become the 21st century’s greatest achievement, says the government. But does it represent the loss of the last straws of individual privacy?...
The True Cost of Cyber Crime
The cost to the UK economy of cyber crime is probably more than you would expect...in fact it's more than even the government estimate!...
The UK National DNA Database And Your Privacy
Is your DNA recorded on a database somewhere? The UK’s DNA database is the biggest in the world. And our Home Office wants more of us registered on it. How does this affect your privacy?...
Using Firewall and Virus Protection Software
For home PC users, a firewall and anti-virus programme represent the bare minimum of security levels. What exactly do these programmes do? How do you find out which one’s best for you? And what els...
Using Personal Websites or Blogs
Are you a keen blogger? Online diaries or ‘blogs’ are the latest craze to sweep the nation, capturing the imagination of anyone with anything to say for themselves. Whether your site is personal or ...
Using Wireless Connections
What’s your Wi-Fi risk? If you connect to the internet using a wireless modem, read this first. Wireless connections are cheap to buy and easy to set-up, but security is disabled by default. Yet th...
What Are Computer Cookies And How To Protect Yourself From Them
Crisp and buttery or sneaky and cunning? It may be named after the Chinese delicacy, but this cookie is far from innocent. While you surf the web it’s quietly gathering an array of personal data, fr...
What Are Your Rights Regarding Email Privacy In The Workplace?
Is someone spying on your emails? Use an email account at work, and they could well be. The laws protecting your email privacy at work are sticky: so get to know your rights, and make sure you maint...
What is RIPA?
What are 'The Authorities' really allowed to find out about you, and what is The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000?...
What is Wikileaks?
If you've heard all about Wikileaks and wondered what it's all about - here's a basic rundown for you....
Why Is Doctor-Patient Confidentiality So Important?
Anything said within your doctor’s surgery should remain between the two of you. But when can a doctor rightfully disclose personal information? And what happens if a family member is diagnosed with...
Your Medical Records
What do your medical records say about you? Who sees them? How are they shared? Are they open to misuse? From typing errors to lax security, even the smallest slip-up could result in the inadverte...
Your Privacy on the Telephone
“Congratulations!” exclaims the pleasant American voice on the end of the line. “You’ve won the holiday of a lifetime! To claim your trip, just press 1 on your keypad...” Whatever you do, don’t pre...
Your Privacy on Your Mobile Phone
Are you being tracked? New technology allows distrustful spouses or anxious parents to track your mobile phone, locating your position at any time of day. And that’s not the only threat to your priv...
Your Privacy Rights at Work
Concerned about your rights at work? The Information Commission publishes full legal guidelines on the employee’s right to privacy. This summary covers your rights to use email and telephones, your ...
Your Privacy When Using Social Networking Sites
Phishing, spamming and tracking are all live and kicking on social network sites. To avoid becoming a victim of online fraud, read our tips....