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The Biggest Lie on the Internet

July 19, 2016

Admit it. Have you ever really read the Terms of Service (TOS) before clicking the 'I accept' button? Apparently, stating that you have read and agreed to the terms and conditions is the biggest lie on the Internet. Recently, a security firm set up an open Wi-Fi network in a public area in London and presented users with a lengthy terms and conditions statement that required them to hand over their firstborn child.

A study from Jonathan Obar, who teaches communication technology at York University, and Anne Oeldorf-Hirsch, a University of Connecticut communications assistant professor, involved 543 undergraduate students. The result was that 75% did not read the privacy policy and signed up by selecting the "quick join" option. In addition, 98% missed the clause about sharing data with the NSA and employers, along with the surrendering of the firstborn child. Perhaps it's a bad day and you really do want to give up your firstborn child, but I think reading the terms of service is a better alternative.

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Digital Forensics/Information Security/Information Technology
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