Internet Privacy Protection Guide

If you are looking for an internet privacy protection guide you have found it. Protecting your privacy involves securing your computer and internet connection at every entry point. Your first goal should be to find a suitable firewall and antivirus. I recommend the ZoneAlarm personal firewall, and if you can get your hands on the Kaspersky anti-virus you will be very secure! Your will need to set these programs up according to your user habits, but always try and have them set to the most secure settings for the best protection.

Beyond these standard protection programs you will need to be aware and conscious of new threats and privacy issues. For example; 5 years ago you probably wouldn't have needed an anti-spyware program, but you would be lost without one nowadays. Threats and security breaches are constantly evolving to bypass the security measures we currently have, and the only way to beat it is to stay ahead of the game. Protect yourself with the knowledge and the tools to secure your connection, knowing how the whole process works is a tremendous skill to have and allows you to better understand the entire system that much better. Your computer is hooked up to millions of other computers, each of which can send and receive data between each another. If a malicious program or person was to try and breach that secure connection of data being sent and received, they could have easy access into your computer or network. Hackers try and find these “open” ports between the network and computer and either redirect or break in. Once they have access inside of these ports they are only a few small steps to breaching your computer system and potentially damaging your computer. If they are able to spot a spot to breach your computer, they will be able to run malicious scripts and have total domain to access and read your private data. How do you plug these “open” ports and prevent malicious attacks against your computer? These ports are closed using a firewall program, and most new versions of Windows come with one built in. Other than simply breaking their way in, hackers have invented several ways to get onto your computer and most of them involve trickery and deceit.

Users could receive an email or instant message from a reputable company or at least what they believe is a reputable company and in turn they may be infected with malicious scripts. This process Is called phishing and has increased in growth by 500% since 2001. This technique is mainly designed to trick, mislead or misrepresent one's self in order to obtain private information. For example; if you were chatting on your favorite Instant Messenger you could receive a message from an anonymous user who presents themselves as being from the company that owns the messenger program. These users could ask for private financial information for their own use, and could pose a severe risk to your online privacy. Being smart and following this internet privacy protection guide will allow you to overcome these online threats.

State Made $62 Million Selling Drivers' License Information

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Targeted Advertising and Your Privacy

The subject of behavioral or “targeted” advertising is getting continued attention this year on Capitol Hill and in the EU.  Topics of concern are privacy protection, consumer rights/choice, accountability, compliance and technology. 

Do Facebook and Google Control Too Much Personal Information?

More than three-quarters (76 percent) of Americans believe that online companies, such as Facebook and Google, know too much about our browsing habits and control too much of our personal information, according to a recent Adweek/Harris poll.

Review Your Website Privacy Policy Before It's Too Late

Recent legal developments regarding privacy and data security have added new requirements, and the failure to comply could result in substantial liability.

ConsumerMan: Who's tracking you online?

Don't look now, but you're being tracked — some might say stalked — whenever you go online. Information about the sites you visit, the things you buy and the topics you search is used to build a detailed profile about you.  In most cases, this is done without your knowledge or consent.