How safe are you in cyberspace? Learn about online privacy

One of the hottest computer topics attracting public interest is privacy. The ease and efficiency with which computers and the Internet are used to collect, store, search, compare, retrieve, and share personal information makes computer technology especially threatening to anyone who wishes to keep various types of “sensitive” information out of the public domain or out of the hands of those who are perceived as potential threats. During the last decade, the commercialization and rapid growth of the Internet; the rise of the world wide web; increase the “ease of use” and processing power of computers; and declining costs of information technology have given rise to new privacy concerns.

Many people have been fooled by my email scams, claiming they will make you a millionaire. It’s the same kind of pyramid scheme that exists over SMS or email, but no law covered it for a while. In addition, many email chain letters have allowed urban legends to spread at a rapid rate and have raised alarm about hoaxes involving many food and drug products. These emails just clog email systems and servers, but it doesn’t look like they’re going to end. Some advertisers also email unsolicited advertisements to email users, in a practice known as spam.

Now let’s look at the most worrying aspects of online privacy:

o Protecting you: Online stalking has been a problem, with people harassing new online ‘friends’ and sometimes even threatening or confronting them.

o Protect your data: This does not come from fear of physical damage, but financial. Strangers can hack sensitive data such as your credit card number or sometimes any sensitive information or sitemaps or photos that are sent in the mail.

A recent survey indicates that 93% of commercial Internet sites collect some type of data that can be used to identify you (this can be your home address, your email address, name, etc.) and 57% collect demographic data. . More than a third of these sites did not publish any information about whether they were collecting data and/or what it would be used for. The report found that only 10% of commercial websites that collected personal or demographic information followed fair information practices regarding notice, choice, access, security, and contact information.

Although there are laws to protect this type of activity, they are rarely investigated. The Communications Decency Act states that telecommunications, ie the Internet, email, chat, and chat programs (including IRC, AIM, and ICQ) must not be used to deliberately harass or intimidate. You can’t send emails to bomb people.

The Online Privacy Alliance, made up of leading communications and technology companies, is trying to help the Internet industry self-regulate on privacy issues. This can favor industries. Still, this leaves out individual consumers and others whose privacy is what is really at issue. The Online Privacy Alliance suggests that consumers look up privacy policies and be careful where they post their information. Bad guys will always try to steal your credit card number, telemarketers will always pay someone for your phone number, and companies will always try to collect data for advertising purposes. Such is the way of the world.

But certainly, there are always ways to be safe than sorry.

Tips to protect you and your data.

1. Always be aware of privacy policies.

Websites can collect a lot of information about your visit: what computer you use, what kind of hardware and software you have, what websites you’ve visited. Websites that ask you to provide even a small amount of personal information may link the data you provide to your browsing habits. Never provide your email id to unauthorized third party websites.

2. Always have a separate personal email account.

Online users often don’t realize that email sent from their work accounts is likely to be an open book to their employers. Even if you send email from home, a copy is often stored on your employer’s main computer server. Your employer has the legal right to read all correspondence in this account.

Getting a separate account for personal use allows you to check your personal messages without using your office email server.

3. Always remember to clear your computer’s memory after browsing.

When you browse the Web, copies of all the pages and images you access are stored in your computer’s memory. Although this helps you visit the same web page next time faster, the browsing log it keeps has a hand in your privacy; Particularly if you share a computer in the workplace. You can remove most of your online traces simply by going to the “Preferences” folder in your browser and clicking the “Empty Cache” button. Sometimes this option is found in the “Advanced” menu of the browser preferences. In Internet Explorer, go to “Internet Options” in the “Tools” menu and click “Clear History”.

4. Always be careful when filling out forms online.

Online forms can be transported digitally in ways that leave them vulnerable to unwanted access. Alternatively, online forms can be encrypted so that only the intended recipients can easily translate the information.

You must ensure that your information is stored and transferred securely. Many browser companies have realized the importance of data security; newer browsers are designed to indicate whether the page being accessed allows encrypted transfers. Commonly used graphics are a key, which is broken if the page is not secure, and a padlock: locked is secure, unlocked is not secure. The chart appears in the corner of the browser screen; Clicking on the lock or key will inform you of additional security information about the page. You should not provide sensitive personal information about yourself (such as credit card number) on unsecured web pages.

5. Always throw out unnecessary cookies

These Cookies are not desirable. A cookie is a piece of data that a website collects about you when you visit it. The data varies by website: a commercial website will collect demographic data (i.e. gender, age, and other advertising information) to learn more about you, while an email service may collect identifying or personal data (name, postal address) information to recognize you. If you’ve ever checked a box that says “Remember my password,” you’ve set a cookie. The cookies tell the site operators whether you have visited the site and, if you have obtained a username and password, the cookies remember that information for you. Many of the “custom” search engines use cookies to deliver news topics that users select; sites often use these same preferences to target advertising. In addition, cookies can be used to track you online and allow a profile to be created without your knowledge.

How to get rid of cookies? You can search your hard drive for a file with the word “cookie” (ie cookies.txt or MagicCookie) to see the cookies that have been attached to your computer. Newer browsers allow you to recognize the sites that send you cookies and reject them directly by accessing the “Advanced” screen of the “Preferences” menu. In Internet Explorer, delete cookies by clicking the “Delete Files” button on the “General” icon in the “Tools” “Internet Options” menu.

6. Always use encryption to keep your email private

Email is not as secure as many believe. The Internet is really no more or less secure than the Postal Service. Most people, mail carriers included, have no real desire to read your personal letters or open your checks. If you send a postcard, people are likely to turn it over and read it if they get the chance. The human species is naturally curious. The number of hackers specifically interested in your mail or e-commerce is very small. Currently, there are technologies that allow you to encrypt your messages to protect your privacy. Some email programs (ie Internet Explorer Outlook and Netscape Messenger) have encryption.

7. Use “anonymous forwarders” for emails and stay anonymous while browsing when privacy is essential.

Anonymity is essential for privacy and freedom of expression. It helps people discuss controversial topics and allows you to post without a forwarding address. Email technology creates problems for the right to anonymous communication, as the sender of a message can be traced through digital routes. However, “anonymous forwarders” currently allow you to send anonymous email messages. From the moment you enter a web address, a record is kept of information about your visit. Every day, most of us walk down the street without being recognized or tracked. While anonymity is often taken for granted in the physical world, that luxury isn’t available online by default. But tools that remove user information, thus preserving anonymity, have been created and are readily available on the web.

8. Let your children know about the dangers of giving personal information to strangers online

Tell your children that they must ask your permission before they can give their name, address, or other information about themselves or the family to a website. Several websites encourage children to give information about themselves or their family; some even attract children with games and gifts. Make children understand that giving valuable information on the web is like giving information to strangers.

9. Do not reveal your passwords or credit card numbers to your friends.

Privacy must also be kept at your level. Never reveal your passwords even to your closest friend. Human beings are never the same. Your close friend today may become your enemy tomorrow. It is better to always hide certain things to maintain privacy. Never reveal passwords or credit card numbers, whatever the situation. If you have revealed it by chance, please change the password immediately.

10. Always be alert

Use common sense, ask questions and find resources. Would you give your credit card number to a street vendor? Would you open an email from an unknown person? How much information does the journal realistically need to process a subscription? Will you be subject to a ton of spam and email bombs if you reveal your physical or email address? These questions that you ask yourself will surely prevent you from giving unwanted information.

Follow all these tips, of course you may be an intrepid web user; however, you must realize that the people in cyberspace are the same people you meet every day in physical reality: your neighbors, your colleagues.

The Internet is a new medium, as was the telephone more than a century ago. Used wisely, it can connect you to a world of people, ideas, and information.

Happy surfing!

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