Published April 19, 2000
We are our own biggest security leak. Casual and inattentive giving of information about ourselves can be used by others without our permission. The first defense while online should be safeguarding our affairs from the info-snatchers.
No less important than securing your safety deposit box key is being aware of the gradually expanding risks to your privacy while online. Information about you is important to someone else.
It is not illegal to take which has been given. Respectable businesses, as well as college student crackers, extract every particle of fact about personal habits and lifestyles. Ask yourself, “Is the information I’m about to surrender really necessary?”
“Free” is a very alluring hook, a chance to win prizes and money; “Just fill out this form.” Be especially cautious about sweepstakes contests. A high probability exists that they are gathering information for direct marketing purposes. The odds are not in your favor to win.
Not all information requested (or demanded) in an online form is compulsory, and sensitive facts should be withheld, such as social security number. Households with children should set clear rules: do not give information on the Internet about mommy and daddy.
The innocuous sounding name given to a file that is automatically stored into your computer via the Web is called a cookie. Some sites like Amazon.com require that you allow cookie files to be written to your hard drive. They contain information about your interests and purchases. They can also contain much more. A Web site looks for this file when you next visit them.
Cookies can be defeated or turned off while browsing the Web, then turned on again for specific sites that require it. Also, Java and JavaScript can be turned off unless absolutely needed to submit forms to certain sites. This is accomplished in your browser’s Options or Preferences menus. It’s not a big deal yet, but security-conscious folks are sensitive to the potential for misuse.
The enormous popularity of email has lead to abuse. All too many people believe they have the right to send free email messages to literally millions of addresses for the purpose of advertising: Spam! Sidestep this eventuality by using a second email address for venturing out onto the Net and keeping your main one clean, for close friends and associates. When the secondary address becomes unbearably littered with unwanted ads, just dump it and get another (different address). Caution: do not use a free-email provider; most of them are used by spammers.
Ignore spam-email entirely. Any unsolicited bulk email you receive is intended to sell you something or verify that you exists. Therefore, do not reply to be removed from their email list! Doing so will proliferate your email address to dozens of other spammers. Just delete spam messages; setup your email program to filter all future encumbrances automatically into the trash.
Many real Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are sensitive to their subscriber’s concerns and will move swiftly to reject (bounce) such spammers if you notify you connection service. They will very likely send the offender’s ISP a complaint. Offending ISPs, that ignore or encourage such annoying behavior are blacklisted.
The Net is a cross-section of humanity. Casual acquaintances cannot be identified. It’s best to be a little wary of strangers. Personal information should be withheld until you know the new e-acquaintance better.
Employers can legally monitor your e-work. The right to privacy for the employee does not exist on the employer’s computer system at the office. Avoid sending personal email and keep sensitive files on your home computer.
Never submit credit card numbers or other highly sensitive personal information without first verifying your connection is secure by encryption. Netscape and Explorer Web browsers displays a closed lock icon or unbroken key to a site that is secure. Information submitted here will be scrambled before transmission and unscrambled at the other end. Also the address will begin with <https://>. If you must do business with careless or clueless vendors, prearrange a more secure alternative disbursement method, or spend your money elsewhere.
Look for and read the Privacy Policy on Web sites. Does it read as a disclaimer that you have no privacy? Seals of assurance are granted to those conscientious sites by TRUST and BBBonline, to name two.
The expanded use of ultra-fast xDSL and wireless is an always-on Internet connection. Existing dial-ups, that most of us use, are fairly secure by their design. But being online all the time requires a blocking mechanism called a firewall.
Home computers are pitifully poor regarding security compared to business Unix workstations that power most of the commercial Web sites. People who search for vulnerable security holes can invade files on your hard drive with relative ease, if you are connected full time.
Use email encryption. Normal everyday communications necessitates confidentiality and secrecy. The courts have ruled that email is public, like publishing in a newspaper. The legal right to scramble is broadly applied to prevent identity theft, government surveillance, nosy bosses, abusive marketers and spammers.
One of the many popular encryption programs is PGP (Pretty Good Privacy). Another is the Anonymizer which completely disguises your location and identity to Web sites and blocks all cookies.
In our society, the security of our affairs is our own responsibility.
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Web Links:
http://www.anonymizer.com/
http://www.bbbonline.org/
http://www.eff.org/
http://www.pgpi.org/
http://www.privacyinternational.org/
http://www.privacyrights.org/
http://www.truste.org/