privacy

Privacy is our right to freedom from unauthorized intrusion. People are starting to wonder if the dawn of the Internet era foretells the doom of personal privacy, due to the widespread use of e-mail, cookies, cell phones, and spyware, as well as checkout scanners, electronic tollbooths, closed-circuit surveillance cameras, and other monitoring technologies. All of these make it extremely easy to gather enormous amounts of information about individuals.

Consumer advocacy and privacy watchdog groups (see: EPIC) are calling for legislated protection, and many Web sites now post privacy policies disclosing how they collect, use, and share your personal information. However, with respect to laws protecting privacy "We're way behind the curve. Technology is way ahead of our ability as a society to think about the consequences" according to Richard Purcell, CEO of the Corporate Privacy Group and former Chief Privacy Officer for Microsoft.

Watch an informative CNBC Documentary about privacy by clicking on the link below!

The EFF's Top 12 Ways to Protect Your Online Privacy:

1) Do not reveal personal information inadvertently.
2) Turn on cookie notices in your Web browser, and/or use cookie management software or infomediaries.
3) Keep a "clean" e-mail address.
4) Don't reveal personal details to strangers or just-met "friends".
5) Realize you may be monitored at work, avoid sending highly personal e-mail to mailing lists, and keep sensitive files on your home computer.
6) Beware sites that offer some sort of reward or prize in exchange for your contact information or other personal details.
7) Do not reply to spammers, for any reason.
8) Be conscious of Web security.
9) Be conscious of home computer security.
10) Examine privacy policies and seals.
11) Remember that YOU decide what information about yourself to reveal, when, why, and to whom.
12) Use encryption!

For more specific instruction on each of these tips, click on "more info" below!