Easy-to-use personal security measures are a welcome antidote to the privacy fears that plague a post-PRISM scandal world. But are encrypted text messages a necessity, or just a fan to the flames of a paranoia epidemic?

There's an increasing consumer awareness of the value of their personal data - and in response, those who gather it are finding ways to emphasise the 'value exchange' while becoming more transparent about how it's used.

The seeming indifference of giants like Google and Facebook to user privacy concerns could be driving net users to an increasingly viable alternative; the dark net. Kate Mew documents the emergence of an Identity Game.

“Google policy is to get right up to the 'creepy' line and not cross it,” says the company's CEO. But when does insightful personalisation become intrusive? And how do brands build lasting relationships with consumers concerned about being spied on?