Big Brother comes along for the ride in your car

It's true... I love gadgets of all types. Friends and family make fun of me for my little high tech toys. But as much as I love technology, some of it scares me too.

Take for example Global Positioning Systems (GPS) in cars. They're great because their satellites have the ability to help you find your way and get un-lost. Yet you've got realize that there is also a record of your whereabouts generated when you're using that GPS system.

Someone, somewhere, may be able to access the records that show where you've been, when you've been there, how fast you went, and a variety of other things. And who knows where this information might go. To the hands of law enforcement? That's no big deal if you're following the law, right?

Not so fast. I don't care if I'm following the law or not. The idea that someone is looking over my shoulder and has the ability to see when and where I've been at all times is creepy. The whole "Big Brother" thing used to just be something in a book. Now the capability is there, and it scares me a little.

Tracy L. Coenen, CPA, MBA, CFE performs fraud examinations and financial investigations for her company Sequence Inc. Forensic Accounting, and is the author of Essentials of Corporate Fraud.