CS404 Ethics and Computers in Society: Current Event 3

The phrase, “The world is shrinking” is the understatement of the century. New technologies and devices, such as cell phones, text messages, instant messenger, email, and internet, decrease the distance between us. Facebook and MySpace are the new social rage. It is getting easier and easier to gather information about other people. While allowing staying in touch with old friends, it also allows unwanted strangers to learn things we do not want them to know. A new technology called “Cell Phone Spy” has surfaced, making way for alarming events to happen. Cell Phone Spy allows SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card data to be transferred from cell phone to cell phone, or from cell phone to computer. This technology does not limit itself to music and ring tones, but allows transfer of text messages (new and deleted), address books, and any other information on one’s cell phone. Spy is a perfect word to describe this technology. We are making it too easy for creeps and evil-doers to access private information. As if worrying about hackers breaking into our computers was not enough…now we have to guard our cell phones.

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