Topic: U.S. Federal Trade Commission
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Tax day 2011: Four ways to protect your tax returns from data thieves
Tax-related identity theft is the fastest growing kind of identity theft. Between 2005 and 2009 complaints to the Federal Trade Commission tripled from 11,000 to nearly 34,000, according to a Scripps Howard News Service investigation. Thieves steal personal information to use for themselves or sell, or they take it to divert a tax refund into their own pockets. Identity theft, as a whole, is on the decline, but the abundance of personal information in circulation during tax season makes it a prime time for thieves to strike. Here are four tips for keeping your information safe:
All Content
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FTC clears Google on antitrust
But in antitrust settlement with FTC, Google agrees to license some mobile-phone patents to Apple, RIM, and other rivals. Google also will stop quoting from other websites in its search results when websites object.
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The Monitor's View: Kids and digital media: removing the fears
Reports of Adam Lanza's war-game obsession and the new FTC rules on children's online privacy help refocus concerns on the effects of digital media on children. But parental anxiety can be channeled toward solutions.
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Instagram uproar: A testing ground for Facebook? (+video)
A popular photo sharing site owned by Facebook, Instagram released new terms of service on Monday. Now Instagram users have a month to decide how much control over their data they are willing to give up.
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Modern Parenthood
Megan Fox, apps spying on our kids, and more: Our parenting news roundupMegan Fox talks about her grooming routine before giving birth, a new report released by the Federal Trade Commission detailing how popular apps for kids are mining data on their whereabouts and finally, a new study linking childhood obesity to television in the bedroom.
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Are smartphone apps spying on children? FTC to rule.
The Federal Trade Commission says smartphone apps are a "digital danger zone," and the FTC is investigating 400 apps for kids to see if they violate the privacy rights of children by collecting personal information and sharing it with advertisers and data brokers.
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Hyundai, Kia overstated mileage, EPA finds. What it means for consumers
Korean auto manufacturers Hyundai and Kia are being forced to reduce the fuel economy estimates on their cars. They will also compensate owners of at least 900,000 2011-13 model-year vehicles.
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Horizons
FTC cuts off 'Rachel from Cardholder Services'Five companies behind the 'Rachel from Cardholder Services' scheme and other credit card robocalls were shut down Thursday, the FTC announced. The FTC estimated that the companies had defrauded customers out of more than $30 million by promising to lower credit card interest rates in exchange for an up-front fee.
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Is that online review a fake?
Paid product reviews are spreading on the Internet. Can technology help?
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California gas prices take a dip, amid calls to investigate the spike
Californians are still reeling from the unprecedented spike in gas prices last week – for no apparent reason. Lawmakers call for a federal investigation of whether foul play sent prices soaring.
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But is it really 'green'? FTC cracks down on false eco-friendly ads
New guidelines from the Federal Trade Commission warn marketers not to make broad, unqualified claims that their products are environmentally friendly or eco-friendly.
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Debt collectors: Why are they so abusive?
Debt collectors have few restrictions and perverse incentives to use extreme measures on debtors. Here are five of the worst abuses by debt collectors.
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Horizons
FTC settles with Facebook over privacy violationsThe FTC and Facebook have reached a deal over alleged privacy violations dating to 2009. But unlike Google, which earlier this week agreed to pay the FTC $22.5 million, Facebook won't be fined a penny.
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Horizons
Google fined $22.5 million in Safari case for violating FTC dealThe FTC has levied a $22.5 million fine against Google. The charge: In tracking cookies on Apple's Safari browser, Google violated the terms of an agreement signed with the FTC last year.
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Google pays record fine to settle federal suit
Google's $22.5 million fine is largest every imposed by the Federal Trade Commission for breaking a previous agreement. The Google fine was the result of charges the company was tracking millions of Web users.
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Your Baby Can Read company folds after high-cost complaints
Your Baby Can Read, a literacy program for infants, faced criticism from advocacy groups and a possible Federal Trade Commission investigation for making false and deceptive claims.
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Happy Friday! JPMorgan launches stock market rally
Showing a vote of confidence in JPMorgan Chase Friday, relieved investors drove up bank stocks, ended a six-day losing streak for the market and sent the Dow Jones industrial average up 204 points, the best day this month, to close at 12,777.
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Horizons
Yahoo hack steals 400,000 passwords. Is yours on the list?A Yahoo hack compromises 400,000 accounts. Here's how to see if yours was stolen.
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Google to pay $22.5M over allegations of secret tracking: source
Google has settled a privacy case for $22.5 million, according to a source.
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Kid apps: Are mobile providers protecting your child's privacy?
It can be hard for parents to decipher whether or not mobile apps are collecting and selling sensitive information about their kids, such as location and purchasing habits. But some are working to make the muddy world of app privacy policies a little more clear and help parents worry about kid apps less.
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Saving Money
Four tips to save money on dry cleaningDry cleaning is expensive, and it's going to get worse. Here's how to avoid a hefty bill.
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The Simple Dollar
Father's Day: cheap, memorable gifts for DadFather's Day is fast approaching, and the search for the perfect gift well underway. But planning a day together is the best Father's Day gift you can give, and it doesn't have to cost much. Father's Day is question nine in this week's mailbag.
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Saving Money
Buying and selling timeshares: eight tipsIn the current market, finding and buying a timeshare is easy. Selling one is a different story. Here are four tips for each that could help.
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1940 Census data: A treasure trove for con artists?
Data from the 1940 census, released Monday, has excited Americans looking for more information about their heritage. But the information could also help identity thieves.
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Jedi knights of online privacy strike back at data-mining empires
Firms such as CloudCapture, which launched Wednesday, and Abine, which debuted its 'Do Not Track Plus' app in February, see a ripe opportunity to turn the technology developed to mine personal data into a tool consumers can use to fight its abuse.
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Inside the Keystone pipeline: How much would it really help US consumers?
Politicians paint a rosy picture of lower gas prices and abundant supply, but Canadian firms behind the Keystone pipeline expect it to supply Gulf Coast export markets and raise Midwest oil prices.
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