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KNI · 08-20-2010, 04:32 PM

Something I wonder about - Amazon has proved, by deleting books from customer's Kindles, that they are entirely capable of downloading the titles of your reader library. I am 100% confident that Apple can do the same, and indeed, so can the makers of any device that "features" cell phone network.

Librarians have fought hard to protect patron's privacy of their reading habits - a court order is required to secure this information from a public library. Yet Amazon can read out your Kindle at any moment it is on and in range of a cell network. AND THEY HAVE PROVEN THAT THEY DO! And that without a court order.

Personal Computers have firewalls to protect the privacy of your files; ebook readers do not. If you contemplate reading confidential business documents on your reader, or read material that for any reason you do not want others to know about, it seems obvious you should avoid a Kindle or an Ipad like the plague. Many of the Sony models are safe, in that they can only accept books or other material from your computer. Others may be as well.

If you own a Kindle or an iPad, you are never safe - any time you go on to the cell network to download a book you also invite an upload of your contents.

If you value your privacy think hard about this.

08-20-2010, 04:32 PM	#1
KNI Connoisseur Posts: 51 Karma: 31226 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oregon Device: Sony PRS-650	Reader privacy Something I wonder about - Amazon has proved, by deleting books from customer's Kindles, that they are entirely capable of downloading the titles of your reader library. I am 100% confident that Apple can do the same, and indeed, so can the makers of any device that "features" cell phone network. Librarians have fought hard to protect patron's privacy of their reading habits - a court order is required to secure this information from a public library. Yet Amazon can read out your Kindle at any moment it is on and in range of a cell network. AND THEY HAVE PROVEN THAT THEY DO! And that without a court order. Personal Computers have firewalls to protect the privacy of your files; ebook readers do not. If you contemplate reading confidential business documents on your reader, or read material that for any reason you do not want others to know about, it seems obvious you should avoid a Kindle or an Ipad like the plague. Many of the Sony models are safe, in that they can only accept books or other material from your computer. Others may be as well. If you own a Kindle or an iPad, you are never safe - any time you go on to the cell network to download a book you also invite an upload of your contents. If you value your privacy think hard about this.