We all browse through the Internet and sometimes one thing leads to another. Maybe you were reading an article about how polar bears are endangered and after a few hours you suddenly found yourself going down the rabbit hole of YouTube and into the weird side. Thankfully, no one else will know that you ended up watching a video about a guy who talks to vegetables, right? Sorry to burst your bubble but wrong. Very wrong. We have an online identity, and everywhere we go and everything we do is seen and tracked by a variety of stalkers.
For example, every time you visit a site, small pieces of information that is stored onto your computer called Cookies. They were created in order to save your information when you jump between sites and collect and store information about you based on what you’re searching, how you browse, information you provide, and so on. For example, Cookies save your passwords so you don’t have to constantly re-enter your information. They’re super helpful but because they also help record your information and preferences, they are constantly tracking you and watching what you do online. There are a variety of Cookies that are stored onto your laptop, for more information, you can visit the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada! If you feel uncomfortable about the fact that there are little bits of information is always being stored, you can always delete these after
However, there are more dangerous things that can be watching you on your computer and puts your Internet privacy at risk. The key to your identity is your password. If your password has compromised and revealed, your identity may stolen and used for fraudulent activity. Techopedia lists a few Internet Privacy risks perfectly:
- Phishing: A hacking activity used to steal secure user data, including security PIN or credit card number usernames, passwords, and bank account numbers and information.
- Pharming: An hacking activity used to redirect a legit site visitor to a different IP address.
- Spyware: An offline application that obtains data without a user’s consent. When the computer is online, data acquired previously is sent to the spyware source.
- Malware: An application used to illegally damage online and offline computer users through Trojans, viruses and spyware.
However, there are also a number of ways to minimize Internet privacy violations and risks:
- Always use preventative software applications, such as anti-virus, anti-malware, anti-spam and firewalls
- Don’t expose personal data on websites with lower security levels
- Avoid shopping on unreliable websites
- Clear the browser’s cache and browsing history consistently
- Always use very strong passwords that consist of letters, numerals and special characters
Be careful and cautious online! There will always be malicious users and softwares that target those who are vulnerable but if you’re smart about your identity and presence online, you can avoid fraudulent activity!
