When it comes to computer networks, easy to use too often translates into easy to steal. Western Union in September saw hackers invade its Web site and steal credit card information from 15,700 customers. Earlier this year, hackers brought down the Web site at the New York Times by defacing it. The newspaper was lucky, Farber said. Too many companies are looking at short-term payoffs by ignoring basic privacy concerns of customers.
Networks tie personal records together and people worry about the privacy of their data.
The more a company knows about its individual customers, the more it can design products to appeal to specific groups or individuals. Customers like that. But they fear hackers might gain access to that information or the company will sell the data to a third party. In this country, television stations now occupy that space. As part of the change to digital television, commercial TV broadcasters are sending out both analog and the newer digital television.