So far, many companies have tried to dispel such fears by noting that the data they gather, store and analyze remains "anonymous." But that, as it turns out, is not entirely accurate, in that it sells the power of data analysis radically short. Take the analysis of anonymous movement profiles, for example. According to a current study by the online journal Scientific Reports, our mobility patterns are so different that that they can be used to "uniquely identify 95 percent of the individuals." The more data is in circulation and available for analysis, the more likely it is that anonymity becomes "algorithmically impossible," says Princeton computer scientist Arvind Narayanan.
In his blog, Narayanan writes that only 33 bits of information are sufficient to identify a person.
Lisa Levinson on 15 Jul 14The first will do anything you tell them, as long as the ones, zeros, and higher-level instructions pan out. The latter will do a variety of things depending on their needs, moods, emotions, and understanding of what is happening and acceptable and important. When the human beings start using the technology, failure becomes a problem that must be managed. As most anyone who has had their email hacked can tell you, the weakest link in any security system is usually the humans. And sometimes the humans leave the door wide open, in part because they don't understand how to close it, don't care enough about closing it, or think the IT folks are just jerks for demanding it be checked so often.
