How To Protect Your On-line Privacy Internet Articles | January 14 Wholesale Latrell Sprewell Jersey , 2002 Travelling the highways and byways of the Internet canexpose you to harmful exploitation. Nick Pullen, a mastercybernaught, suggests you enhance your personal security andpeace-of-mind by following th...
Travelling the highways and byways of the Internet can expose you to harmful exploitation. Nick Pullen, a master cybernaught, suggests you enhance your personal security and peace-of-mind by following the "Rules of the Road."
The Internet is a wonderful facilitator. We use it to communicate Wholesale Wilt Chamberlain Jersey , do business, access information, news and services, and to shop. But the Internet and the technology which makes it possible also has a darker side. It enables investigators, fraudsters Wholesale Tim Hardaway Jersey , marketers, stalkers, hackers, lunatics and just plain nosy people, armed with the right equipment and know-how Wholesale Draymond Green Jersey , to appropriate sensitive data and confidential information about you, your personal, financial and professional affairs, whether you are on or off-line.
This sensitive material can be sold to criminal or commercial buyers. Or it can be used to damage you and your personal or commercial interests. It could be used to blackmail or defraud you. It could be used by someone wanting to commit crimes in your name. It could be used to harass you. It can be added to any dossier being discreetly compiled about you by just about anybody for just about any purpose. The Internet could be used by a lunatic or someone with a grudge trying to track you down.
"New viruses are released into the public domain all the time."
Fact is, personal data and sensitive information about your activities and who you are is probably floating around Cyberspace right now - completely open to access. Sending emails Wholesale Nick Young Jersey , posting to news groups, shopping, and surfing on- line can undermine your personal, financial and professional privacy unless you take precautions.
I am not saying that Cyberspace is riddled with demented hackers or bulging at the seams with criminal types waiting to target you. But there is an undesirable element out there. If you?ve taken steps to protect yourself, you can be certain of not falling foul of them.
Use the following techniques to ensure peace-of-mind on- line.
Preparation For On-line Activity
Restrict the flow of sensitive personal data. Your browser can literally shed information about you. Unless you take precautions to prevent it Wholesale Klay Thompson Jersey , without you knowing, your browser will simply distribute your email address and other contact information whilst you are on-line. Protect your main email address: In your browser's Set-up, Options or Preferences menus don?t enter your main email address. Instead set up an alternative email address free of charge (at http:www.hotmail or http:www.yahoo or any of the other on-line email services offering free accounts). Enter that address instead. In the same way you must protect your real identity. In the same browser menus enter a pseudonym instead of your real name.
Ideally, to protect your main (non-Internet) systems and files against on-line privacy threats, use a second computer solely for Internet access and activity.
If you have a personal web page on the Internet don?t post personal information on it. Why give passing fraudsters Wholesale Matt Barnes Jersey , psychopaths or pranksters your home address, telephone number, or any other personal details?
Essential Ongoing Maintenance
Use virus protection software and use it regularly to sweep files attached to emails and files you download from the Internet. Use Norton Anti-Virus which can be obtained from http:www.symantec. Alternatively, use a free virus scanner such as AVG, available from http:www.grisoft . Make sure your virus detection software is up-to-date. New viruses are released into the public domain all the time. If your software only deals with viruses up to a certain date it is not providing adequate protection.
"Many spammers are outright con artists."
A badly configured or maintained computer can reveal sensitive information about your Internet activity even when you are off-line. Windows contains a file called History which acts as a log of your Internet movements Wholesale Kevin Durant Jersey , keeping a record of all the Internet pages you have visited. This history file can last for months unless you configure your browser to prevent this. Go to ToolsInternet Options and set the days to keep pages in history option to zero days. Also ensure you regularly clear the Temp folder and Temporary Internet Files folder which will be found in Windows. Periodically open those folders, select their contents and delete.
Strengthen Your Email Security
The three best pieces of advice I can give you about preserving and protecting your on-line privacy are as follows. 1: Use encryption. 2: Use encryption. 3: Always, always use encryption. Why? Encryption is the most effective defence there is against really determined hackers, stalkers, and fraudsters who capture sensitive data by intercepting unencrypted email and Internet messages. Too many people still send unencrypted emails containing all manner of sensitive personal Wholesale Stephen Curry Jersey , financial, and commercial data. Fact: Sending unencrypted email through cyberspace is like sending a postcard through the mail system; anybody and everybody can read it. Use encryption. Which encryption system? PGP encryption is the best around. Download it free of charge from http:www.pgp.