- Subject: Introduction to eBusiness - Recommended textbook for the assignment: Laudon, K. C. & Traver, C. G. (2013). E-commerce Essentials, 1st Edition. Pearson. ISBN-13: 9780133544985. (CHAPTERS

Most consumers don’t think about security or privacy until it has been compromised and they must deal with the consequences. Your manager at the CPA firm where you work has asked you to produce a customer-oriented security and privacy brochure as part of a rollout plan for new online services the firm plans to offer. When asked for the details of these services so you can write about them, the reply is “I want you to tell me what typical customers really want and need, and then we’ll figure out how to deliver them. I want to start with the notion of security and privacy first!” He walks over and lovingly pats one of the big double doors on the front of the midsized fireproof walk-in safe that fills a back corner of his office. “This lovely old sweetheart is no longer impressive enough to earn us customers concerned about security and privacy.” What issues should the firm be concerned about and what should one include and address in such a brochure?

2. “First they demanded I use this clunky old slow laptop and made it clear that I could not use my new, fast as can be, personal computer. Now I’m told I can only access the customer data files by physically plugging directly into our office network.

No Wi-Fi or cell-enabled Internet access is allowed when a computer is plugged into our customer-data network. Kiss goodbye the good-old days of working from home when the weather is bad. I now expect to see contractors erecting a totally electromagnetic-proof SCIF similar to those used by ‘black’ programs of the military.

I know we have some sensitive client data here, but we’re a title company, for heavens sake. Every time some news story talks about hacking, the old man goes a little further off the deep end making it harder and harder for us to do our jobs.” From your reading and research, what is the scope of security and privacy concerns commercial firms might have, and what tactics might a firm employ to address them.

Is it truly the case that improvements in security and privacy always mean a decrease in workflow effectiveness and convenience?Support your answer with concrete examples and references.

3. Apple announced its Apple Pay service with much fanfare on September 9, 2014.

What technologies are involved in Apple’s offering, and how does it differ from earlier attempts, such as Google Wallet or PayPal. What, if any, new technologies or processes are in play that might differentiate the new Apple offering? Explain if you believe Apple’s offering is just “me too” or is there any actual innovation.

4. A friend of yours argues with you that push-style direct payment programs from banks are much more secure than giving credit card information to businesses where they can initiate a pull-style payment. Analyze these two styles of payments from a security and privacy perspective as well as any other key issues that might make one or the other more appropriate for various kinds of business transactions.

5. A friend sent you the following from a major airline’s website and asks you if you believed that the website had been hacked. The friend commented that a customer service representative from the airline didn’t see anything strange with the prices. Do these prices make sense to you? What are the economic and/or business issues at play? If these prices make sense, explain the rationale. If they don’t, explain why they don’t. In both cases, support your answer with references and citations.