The
purpose of this guide is to identify the issues of Internet privacy and
provide tips for protecting yourself while using the Internet.
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"You have zero privacy [on the Internet] anyway. Get over
it."
- Sun Microsystems CEO Scott McNealy
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The first instinct for most people would likely be to express a strong
disagreement with the above statement. However, when you consider the
overwhelming number of people who have had their privacy violated in
various forms, Mr. McNealy's pessimistic outlook begins to carry some
weight. Before throwing in the towel, lets examine what can happen to your
privacy on the Internet and how you can take steps to protect your
personal information.
What constitutes a privacy violation on the Internet? Things such as
identity theft, cyber-stalking and credit card number theft are among the
clearly illegal activities taking place. Cyber-stalking is a crime in
which the attacker harasses a victim using electronic communication, such
as e-mail or instant messaging (IM), or messages posted to a Web
site or a discussion group. Even corporations and private businesses will
put ethics aside when it comes to the Internet. They will track your web
browsing and tailor banner advertising in order to "serve" your better.
They collect information from you when you fill out surveys, download
software or enter contests. What do companies do with this information and
how is it controlled?
