According to a document from the internal company obtained by motherboard, Amazon plans to monitor how its employees use their keyboards and their mice to prevent customer data leaks. The retailer would have supported licensed tools from a company called the company.
“The software does not rely on personally identifiable information or other static data”, a ThortiOsec stats FAQ page. Instead, the company says it uses “behavioral biometrics” to generate a profile of how someone types and uses their computer. Its software then uses this profile to verify that a computer hacker or impostor did not compromise the device of an employee. The behaviolec website lists Cisco and Deutsche Telekom as “Partners”, suggesting Amazon would not be the first company to use its software. Amazon would have examined other employee monitoring solutions. However, because of “challenges around the data collection on typing strikes,” concluded that it was better to turn to more “privacy sensitive” models such as Thamportosec.
In the document, Amazon says it needs this software to combat various security threats. The company points to at least four cases where its security team has identified incidents in which a person as a service agent for customer data. “We have a security deficit because we do not have a reliable mechanism to verify that users are the ones they claim,” says the company in the document.
With more employees who work at a distance due to the pandemic, this is also concerned with a higher risk of data exfilation “. Amazon points to several hypothetical scenarios he wants to protect against, including a Where a customer service employee forgets to lock his computer and a roommate covers flies the data of the company. In 2022, he believes that the software could help reduce 100% imputation control.
“Maintaining the security and confidentiality of customer and employee data is one of our highest priorities,” Kelly Nantel, Director of National Media Relations in Amazon, “said Engadget. “Although we do not share the details on the technologies we use, we explore and constantly test new ways to protect customer-related data while respecting the privacy of our employees. And we do so while remaining consistent with applicable privacy laws and regulations. “
While Amazon’s reasons to consider behavinsec seem to be well-intentioned, the company does not have the best history with the employee monitoring software. A recent CNBC report discovered that Amazon’s mentor app was far too dominant to do its work effectively, and it would unnecessarily penalize drivers for things like going on the occasional bump on the road.
