Web Bluetooth API Privacy

Web Bluetooth - a web API under development, and will be one of the core components of Web of Things, the application layer of Internet of Things. It will enable sensors, beacons and user devices to communicate with each other. But at first: it will enable a web browser to…

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Switzerland’s new surveillance law

The debate around surveillance around the world is a developing story. Multiple states are considering, working on or applying new investigative powers (e.g. United Kingdom’s Investigatory Powers Bill or France’s Patriot Act à la française) strengthening surveillance capabilities; this trend is visible around the world. Investigatory powers…

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Privacy analysis of Ambient Light Sensors

Introduction Smartphones are equipped with a sensor letting the device to detect the brightness levels in their environment (modern sensors are even capable to measure the intensity of green, red and blue lights). The simplest application of the sensor is to adjust the screen's brightness in accordance with the environment.…

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Battery Status readout as a privacy risk

Introduction Privacy risks and threats arise and surface even in seemingly innocuous mechanisms. We have seen it before, and we will see it again. Recently, I participated in a study assessing the risk of W3C Battery Status API. The mechanism allows a web site to read the battery level of…

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