mNo edit summary
mNo edit summary
 
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Security''' is an engineering principal whereby the risk of an unauthorized malicious agent gaining control of a product, its information, or its environment is minimized. Security of programs and physical products is critical to consumer protection.
'''Security''' is an engineering principle whereby the risk of an unauthorized malicious agent gaining control of a product, its information, or its environment is minimized. Security of programs and physical products is critical to consumer protection.


==Security vulnerabilities==
==Security vulnerabilities==
Line 28: Line 28:


===How to avoid losing rights in the name of "security"===
===How to avoid losing rights in the name of "security"===
#Avoid using physical and software products that needlessly require connection to the internet. Your fridge does not need to be "smart". Choosing to use a smart appliance opens the door for companies to take away your rights as well as open you to security vulnerabilities.
#Avoid using physical and software products that needlessly require connection to the internet. Your fridge does not need to be "smart". Choosing to use a smart appliance opens the door for companies to take away your rights as well as open you to security vulnerabilities.
#Avoid using physical products that require a proprietary app to use. While the product itself may not connect directly to the internet, your internet device now serves as a bridge to it. This opens the door for companies to take away your rights via the app. In addition, the app itself may have security vulnerabilities of its own.
#Avoid using physical products that require a proprietary app to use. While the product itself may not connect directly to the internet, your internet device now serves as a bridge to it. This opens the door for companies to take away your rights via the app. In addition, the app itself may have security vulnerabilities of its own.
#Avoid using physical products that need a subscription to use. For example, a normal treadmill won't brick itself if the company goes out of business, or decides to [[Peloton Removes Just Run Feature|eliminate a subscription free feature]] in the name of safety or security.
#Avoid using physical products that need a subscription to use. For example, a normal treadmill won't brick itself if the company goes out of business, or decides to [[Peloton removes Just Run feature|eliminate a subscription free feature]] in the name of safety or security.
#Avoid using closed-source products if equivalent open-source products exist. Open source products are not necessarily more secure, but they are far less likely to violate a consumer's rights simply because the consumer has the ability to change the product as they wish.
#Avoid using closed-source products if equivalent open-source products exist. Open source products are not necessarily more secure, but they are far less likely to violate a consumer's rights simply because the consumer has the ability to change the product as they wish.


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
*[[End-user license agreement]]
*[[End-user license agreement]]
*[[Terms of service]]
*[[Terms of service]]
Line 42: Line 40:


==References==
==References==
<references />
{{Reflist}}


[[Category:Common terms]]
[[Category:Common terms]]
[[Category:Articles in need of additional work]]