Internet Privacy Risks - What are they?

Ok, so the websites I have visited have captured basic data about me and my online activities. So what, what risk is there? I don't really care if they sell my browsing patterns to third party groups or if they use my data for marketing campaigns. I don't care if they are able to sell on information about me to affiliates. It all makes no difference to me right?

Well perhaps you should think again if you are agreeing with the statements above. There are risks and the impacts of this free flow of personal data is growing at an alarming rate.

Types of privacy risks

Risks to your privacy come in many shapes and forms. The foloowing list is only a first draft of the key areas. Each one will be fleshed out over the coming weeks explaining the risk and also helping you take action to over come the risk.

Cookies

Have you heard of the term Internet Cookie? You really should read this article So what are cookies and what is a cookie used for?. Once you understand the basics of what a cookie is you can then read about the different types of cookie and the potential risks they may present to you. Once you have read enough, there are detailed step by step guides explaining how you can control cookies on your browser, delete cookies you may already have stored and therefore retake control of yout cookie data.

Search Engines

Personalized search results help ensure you are presented with lists of results that will be more relevent to you. Sounds good, but did you ever stop to think what this actually means? The search engines are monitoring your every searchentry, mapping this with the websites you subsequently visit, recording how long you spend on the sites, how many pages you consume on those sites all of course with the sole aim to improve future search results - mmm I wonder! Remember these search engines are not there to offer philnathropic services. Free to all purely out of the goodness of their heart. They are huge moneuy making industries whose sole purpose is to make money. So when they monitor your activity, do you think they will sell on this information? Do you think they would use this information to target adverts at you based on what you have been consuming? Do you think they would -Of course they will do allof the previously mentioned actions in the blink of an eye the whole time claiming to have your best interests at heart and only trying to ensure the internet is more Tailored to your needs!

System Data Logging

There are lots of applications and some operating systems that are configured to carry out data logging of usage. This can include recording the times when the computer is in use, or which web sites you have visited. If a third party has enough access, legally or not, the user's privacy could be severly compromised. This needs to be controlled for your own protection.

Internet Loaded Photographs

The internet is now everyones personal photo album and its fantastic, allowing you to share picture with friends and family no matter where they may be in the world in a matter of minutes. So whats the harm in that? What happens when prospective employers start reviewing your collection of pictures?

Social Networking Privacy

Quick question for you to ponder on, who owns the data you upload on to social networking sites? Hmmm, intersting, you think its your data and you own it? Think again! As soon as you upload any information be it a photograph, personal story, snippet about a friend whatever it is - they own it! Yes they take the approach that any data stored on their systems is owned by them. You have freely given them full rights to do as they please with your data.

Of course they will promise to protect and secure the data, only share it with reputable third parties etc. Who decides what a "reputable third party" is? My guess is if the third party pay enough for your data - they will very quickly become reputable in the eys of the social network!

Should you care? Well if potential employers start utilising this information to vet prospective empoyees than you should care. What's that I hear you say - no way that would never happen. Well too late it is already ahppening and there are already stories of companies using social netowrking data ton reject potential employees. Worried? you should be.

So what can you do - is it too late. You already have all of that data floating around those social sites. How do you clean it up, how can you become more respectable in the eyes of empployers and others?

Anonymity is important - take control - protect your privacy - own your data.

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