Internet Privacy is What You Make It
This world is all about one thing, information. Every time you connect to the Internet, your every action is being watched, logged and saved in databases all over the world. Most of the time, almost always actually, the information is perfectly harmless and can serve to make your surfing a more enjoyable and quicker experience, However, there are times when knowing how to protect your Internet Privacy as well as knowing when and where you are at risk can be an invaluable bit of knowledge.
No matter how you connect to the Internet, you have an electronic signature, also known as your IP Address or Internet Protocol Address. An IP address leaves a trail to your computer and identifies you to the world. Through this string of numbers, any website can save information about you and recognize you when you go back to the same site another time. There are ways to hide your IP address via certain websites that mask your IP and use a substitute number. There are also ways, from home; you can make sure your computer is protected from outside visitors.
If you are using a cable connection to the Internet, you can set up a security system through your cable router that will prevent other people from connecting to your computer or to the Internet through your computer. Each company is different in how they do it, so you will want to contact them and have them set that up with you. The most common type of protection is a WEP key phrase, which takes an easy to remember phrase and converts it into a 16 or 21 random combinations of letters and numbers as your security password. Once you have that enabled, no one will be able to connect to your PC or to your Internet connection unless they know the pass code. This is but one way to protect your Internet privacy and, it’s the easiest way to make sure you have this enabled as every cable, DSL or FiOS system will have this option. All you need to do is call your provider and have them help you set up that protection.
If you have a laptop and use a connection card to go online when you are out and about, you are connected to the net through what is known as a “hot spot”. This is an area where you can connect to the Internet through, essentially, the air. The problem is, so can everyone around you and with a simple program called a packet sniffer, anyone can pick up on what you are doing and get your information. Setting up a little protection on your end, by using what is known as an anonymous proxy server, will prevent people from seeing what you are doing. Finding a provider who can direct you to dependable, anonymous proxy software is one of the best ways to protect your Internet privacy.
Your Internet privacy is not something you should take lightly. Anyone who can connect to your computer can get any information you have stored inside. Your passwords to bank accounts, credit card accounts and just about anything else you can think of are all open to anyone who wants it unless you take that first simple step to protecting yourself and your information.
