The Internet is a miraculous superhighway of information, yet some knowledge most people want to keep private. To protect yourself and your family against Internet predators wishing to obtain your personal information, it is wise to understand the various ways in which your privacy can be breached.
Internet Privacy Risks
Phishing Spam:
Internet predators use phony emails and pop-up messages as bait to hook unsuspecting computer users into divulging personal information such as bank account numbers, credit card numbers and account passwords. Then, they use your personal information to steal your identity.
To protect against phishing spam:
- Be skeptical of urgent email requests for personal or financial information.
- Only email personal or financial information to secure websites that start with https://.
- Install anti-virus software on your computer and make sure it remains up-to-date.
Spyware:
When downloading free items on the Internet such as music or images, you also run the risk of downloading software called spyware that tracks your Internet usage activity. This technology can identify your personal information, which is often sold to a third party without your knowledge. To combat against spyware, install anti-spyware software that protects your computer against these harmful download add-ons.
Cookies:
Cookies are placed on your computer every time you visit a website. They store information and retrieve it later concerning your computer preferences. Though cookies allow you to customize your Internet experiences, they also gather personal information, which you may not want to share with others.
To combat cookies, reconfigure your browser to accept, block or individually approve cookies. In addition, you can purchase cookie management software programs to avoid accumulating cookies on your computer.
Helpful Hints
Spam, electronic junk mail, is not only annoying, it is also dangerous for your computer. In fact, many computer viruses are transmitted via email and infect the computer’s hard drive once emails are opened.
To reduce the amount of spam that you receive, download an anti-spam software program and keep it up-to-date.
