Internet Privacy Importance - Does it Matter ?

So here is the question, is your internet privacy important? Does it really matter if websites can capture some basic information about your browsing habits and preferences;after all they use this information to make your experience of their websites better, don't they?

In principal yes, the aim is to help improve your interaction with a website by remembering preferences, storing your shopping cart information, helping remove the need to enter in your name and password multiple times, read this article to see some of the simple useful actions that Cookies perform: So what are cookies and what is a cookie used for?. All good and helpful actions, but are you aware of what else is happening?

What happens to your private data?

Here is a thought - if a website only uses your information to purely provide you with a better service, why do no websites provide a place for you to review what information they are capturing about you, allowing you to review and possible correct it should you see errors? Reason: They are worried that you will be shocked at the volume of data, the level of detail they capture and more importantly, what they do with all of this information.

It is exceptionally rare to find a website that actually clearly states what they do with your information. Most of the more reputable websites will provide the usual legal blurb about how important your privacy is to them and the care they take in protecting your data. No mention of what actual data they have about you or what they will actually use your data for. Very few will mention that they actually own your data and are completely within their legal rights to pass private information on to third party companies and affiliates. Furthermore, they never mention that this data is often sold to these "third parties".

Who has access to your personal data?

Another thought - who are these third parties that are purchasing your data and what are they doing with it? If all of this is so innocent then why do websites not make it clear what data they capture and who they pass it on to. Surely they should give you the right to block any distribution of your private information - Oh, of course I forgot for a second, they actually own your private data once they have captured it so they do not actually have to ask for your permission?

Shocked, Outraged, What can you do about it?

Sadly there is a huge "Grey Market"place in the selling of private data. I call it a grey market as it is not strictly ilegal, but then again it is not openly discussed and visibile to the average internet user either! Did you know that mauch of this personal data travels internationally to countires with very different laws as off-shoring gains ground who ensures your data receives the proper protection and controls?

Take Control of your data now!

Bookmark this site now, read the articles you will find here, learn how to control your data. Ignorance is no excuse, once they have your life tagged and indexed.

The Truth about Internet Privacy

There is no such thing as Internet Privacy, unless you take action and control what data is recorded and stored about you.This site will try to help educate you as to the danger on the internet and how to combat each risk. Try starting by reading about Cookies here: So what are cookies and what is a cookie used for? Then take ownership of your browser and read through the step by step guides in this site that will help you to control what data cookies store and pass on about you.

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