PRIVACY ONLINE

By: Sarah Khela

DEFINITION OF ONLINE PRIVACY

Internet privacy consists of privacy over the media of the Internet:

the ability to control what information one reveals about oneself

over the Internet, and to control who can access that information.

Many people use the term to mean universal Internet privacy: every

user of the Internet possessing Internet privacy.

Internet privacy forms a subset of computer privacy. Experts in the

field of Internet privacy have a consensus that Internet privacy does

not really exist. Privacy advocates believe that it should exist

#1 DON’T REVEAL PERSONAL INFORMATION

Most people are sharing personal information that

almost anyone can find without even knowing it.

You should use a fake name except if you need to

do banking or your e-mail. Don’t give information

to pop-ups or any sort of advertisement. Don’t

leave your internet on at night because you may

get viruses or people will hack into your internet

and get information.

#2 USE COOKIE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE

Cookies are tidbits of information that websites

store on your computer. They also may be

passwords or user ID’s so you don’t have to keep

typing them when you load a new page. Most

cookies can only be read by whoever created them.

Cookies track everything that you do on your

computer.

#3 DON’T REVEAL PERSONAL INFORMATION TO STRANGERS OR

JUST MET FRIENDS

You should be careful with who you talk to online.

Some people could make accounts pretending to be

your friend when it could be anybody. You should

talk to your friends and create a passcode that you

say at the beginning of your conversations so you

know it’s them. It’s not a good idea to go out and

meet face to face with someone you don’t know but

talk to online.

#4 BEWARE OF SITES THAT OFFER REWARDS OR PRIZES IN EXCHANGE FOR YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

They use your information for direct marketing

purposes. Once marketers have your information

they sell it to other marketers and it’s a long chain

that doesn’t end quickly. Be especially wary of

sweepstakes and contests. You probably won't win,

but the marketer sure will if you give them your

information.

#5 DON’T REPLY TO SPAMMERS

Spam on your e-mail is something your probably aware

with. This simply confirms that your address is being

read by a real person, and you'll find yourself on dozens

more spammers' lists in no time. If you have a good

Internet service provider, you may be able to forward

copies of spam e-mail to the system administrators who

can route a complaint to the ISP of the spammer.

#6 BE CAUTIOUS OF WEB SECURITY

Never submit a credit card number or other highly

sensitive personal information without first making sure

your connection is secure. In any browser, look at the URL

(Web address) line - a secure connection will begin

"https://" instead of "http://". If you are at page that asks

for such information but shows "http://" try adding the "s"

yourself and hitting enter to reload the page. Your browser

itself gives away information about you, if your IP address.

#7 BE CONSCIOUS OF HOME COMPUTER SECURITY

Your own computer may be a trouble spot for Internet security. If you

have a DSL line, broadband cable modem or other connection to the

Internet that is up and running 24 hours be sure to turn your computer

off. System crackers search for vulnerable, unattended DSL-connected

home computers, and can invade them with surprising ease, rifling

through files looking for credit card numbers or other sensitive data, or

even "taking over" the computer and quietly using it for their own

purposes, such as launching attacks on other computers elsewhere -

attacks you could initially be blamed for. Firewall hardware and software

is another option that can protect you from these kinds of attacks.

#8 EXAMINE PRIVACY POLICIES AND SEALS.

When you are considering whether or not to do business with

a Web site, there are other factors than a secure connection

you have to consider that are equally important to Web

security. Just because they call it a "privacy policy" doesn't

mean it will protect you, read it for yourself. Check with the

seal-issuing site to make sure the seal isn't a fake, and examine

terms carefully, especially if you are subscribing to a service

rather than buying a product. Look out for auto-rebilling scams

and hidden fees.

#9 REMEMBER THAT YOU DECIDE WHAT INFORMATION AB OUT

YOURSELF TO REVEAL

Don't give out personally-identifiable information too easily. Just

as you might think twice about giving some clerk at the mall your

home address and phone number, keep in mind that simply

because a site asks for or demands personal information from you

does not mean you have to give it. You do have to give accurate

billing information if you are buying something, of course, but if

you are registering with a free site that is a little too nosy for you,

there is no law against providing them with pseudonymous

information.

#10 USE ENCRYPTION!

Last but certainly not least, there are other privacy threats

besides abusive marketers, nosy bosses, spammers and scammers.

Some of the threats include industrial espionage, government

surveillance, identity theft, disgruntled former associates, and

system crackers. Relatively easy-to-use e-mail and file encryption

software is available for free, such as Pretty Good Privacy (PGP,

available at: HREF="http://www.pgpi.org/">http://www.pgpi.org/ ),

which runs on almost all computers and even integrates

seamlessly with most major e-mail software.