LinkNYC provides “super-fast, free” Internet connections to people throughout New York City, but as the NYCLU pointed out this week, it also retains the personal data of anyone who connects to the service. Even if you don’t live in New York City, the concerns are worth taking to heart as more urban centers roll out Wi-Fi services.“CityBridge, the company behind the LinkNYC kiosks that have begun replacing phone booths in Manhattan, retains a vast amount of information about users—often indefinitely—building a massive database that carries a risk of security breaches and unwarranted NYPD (New York Police Department) surveillance,” the NYCLU said Wednesday in a press release.The release mentions the recent trouble over Apple’s refusal to unlock an iPhone for the FBI. In a sense, the issues are similar: Should innocent people sacrifice privacy for the sake of security? You can imagine the argument. If a would-be terrorist is dumb enough to communicate via public Wi-Fi, shouldn’t the police be able to access that information if it helps stop a crime?Maybe, maybe not. In any case, the situations aren’t totally similar. IPhones are privately owned devices, and Apple argues that the FBI’s request would actually create more security risks for consumers. Public Wi-Fi, on the other hand, is just what it sounds like. One might reasonably expect that communications via such networks aren’t private.A representative for LinkNYC did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Huffington Post about the NYCLU’s complaints. For now, though, take this as a reminder that “free” doesn’t necessarily mean “no strings attached.” If you’re worried about the government accessing your data, you should refrain from using government-backed Wi-Fi.Maybe it won’t always be this way. “Internet access is not a choice, it’s a modern-life necessity,” Mariko Hirose, senior staff attorney at the NYCLU, said in the press release. “The city’s public Wi-Fi network should set the bar for privacy and security to help ensure that New Yorkers do not have to sacrifice their rights and freedoms to sign online.”1. Why is NYCLU disappointed with a new public Wi-Fi service in New York?A) Because it keeps the users’ personal information. B) Because it fails to offer fast and free Internet services.C) Because it will launch Wi-Fi services first in other cities.D) Because it will cooperate with NYPD in the future.2. Which of the following is true about the second paragraph?A) CityBridge has been building phone booths in Manhattan.B) CityBridge has kept a great amount of users’ data. C) Phone booths in Manhattan are leaking out users’ data.D) Phone booths in Manhattan are under the police surveillance.3. Which of the following is true about public Wi-Fi according to the passage?A) Public Wi-Fi serves users without any information verification.B) Communications via public Wi-Fi are not private. C) It’s avoidable for the government to access data of those Wi-Fi users.D) Free pubic Wi-Fi allows you to use Wi-Fi without attached conditions.4. What can we learn from Mariko Hirose?A) The need of public Wi-Fi is a tendency in modern life. B) New Yorkers are advised to avoid using public Wi-Fi.C) New Yorkers should cooperate with the local government.D) The city’s network should make regulations to prevent terrorists.5. What is the passage mainly about?A) Apple’s refusal to cooperate with the FBI.B) How to use free public Wi-Fi in New York.C) The security of public network in New York. D) How to use public Wi-Fi to prevent terrorists.

The New York Civil Liberties Union (shortened as NYCLU) is disappointed in a new public Wi-Fi service. LinkNYC provides “super-fast, free” Internet connections to people throughout New York City, but as the NYCLU pointed out this week, it also retains the personal data of anyone who connects to the service. Even if you don’t live in New York City, the concerns are worth taking to heart as more urban centers roll out Wi-Fi services. “CityBridge, the company behind the LinkNYC kiosks that have begun replacing phone booths in Manhattan, retains a vast amount of information about users—often indefinitely—building a massive database that carries a risk of security breaches and unwarranted NYPD (New York Police Department) surveillance,” the NYCLU said Wednesday in a press release. The release mentions the recent trouble over Apple’s refusal to unlock an iPhone for the FBI. In a sense, the issues are similar: Should innocent people sacrifice privacy for the sake of security? You can imagine the argument. If a would-be terrorist is dumb enough to communicate via public Wi-Fi, shouldn’t the police be able to access that information if it helps stop a crime? Maybe, maybe not. In any case, the situations aren’t totally similar. IPhones are privately owned devices, and Apple argues that the FBI’s request would actually create more security risks for consumers. Public Wi-Fi, on the other hand, is just what it sounds like. One might reasonably expect that communications via such networks aren’t private. A representative for LinkNYC did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Huffington Post about the NYCLU’s complaints. For now, though, take this as a reminder that “free” doesn’t necessarily mean “no strings attached.” If you’re worried about the government accessing your data, you should refrain from using government-backed Wi-Fi. Maybe it won’t always be this way. “Internet access is not a choice, it’s a modern-life necessity,” Mariko Hirose, senior staff attorney at the NYCLU, said in the press release. “The city’s public Wi-Fi network should set the bar for privacy and security to help ensure that New Yorkers do not have to sacrifice their rights and freedoms to sign online.”1. Why is NYCLU disappointed with a new public Wi-Fi service in New York?A)  Because it keeps the users’ personal information. B)  Because it fails to offer fast and free Internet services.C)  Because it will launch Wi-Fi services first in other cities.D)  Because it will cooperate with NYPD in the future.2. Which of the following is true about the second paragraph?A)  CityBridge has been building phone booths in Manhattan.B)  CityBridge has kept a great amount of users’ data. C)  Phone booths in Manhattan are leaking out users’ data.D)  Phone booths in Manhattan are under the police surveillance.3. Which of the following is true about public Wi-Fi according to the passage?A)  Public Wi-Fi serves users without any information verification.B)  Communications via public Wi-Fi are not private. C)  It’s avoidable for the government to access data of those Wi-Fi users.D)  Free pubic Wi-Fi allows you to use Wi-Fi without attached conditions.4. What can we learn from Mariko Hirose?A)  The need of public Wi-Fi is a tendency in modern life. B)  New Yorkers are advised to avoid using public Wi-Fi.C)  New Yorkers should cooperate with the local government.D)  The city’s network should make regulations to prevent terrorists.5. What is the passage mainly about?A)  Apple’s refusal to cooperate with the FBI.B)  How to use free public Wi-Fi in New York.C)  The security of public network in New York. D)  How to use public Wi-Fi to prevent terrorists.