When you browse the web information is continuously collected by the websites you visit and by your own computer. For example, websites at a minimum collect information about the web browser you use the operating system of your computer and the geography you reside from. However, what surprises most users is the amount of information that is collected on your computer from your surfing habits and daily use.
Your web browser stores a lot of different types of information which is designed to improve your internet surfing experience but nevertheless poses a privacy risk. The sites or URLs which you visit are stored in the browser’s “history.” Search results are saved when you enter a search term into a search engine like Google. Web content and images are stored in the “temp” folder. Files that you download are stored in the download manager.
Websites also place “Cookies” onto your hard drive. A cookie is a small text file and is used by websites to offer advanced features. Some of the information that cookies store include shopping basket items or log-in information for a membership site. Cookies can also store information about when you visited the site including date and time.
Given all this information being collected above you can easily see why this could become a privacy risk. It would not take someone who knew what they were doing too long to figure out what websites you visit, what you have bought online and what search terms you are looking for. This is unfortunately not the end of it.
If you are a user of instant messenger or chat programs like AIM, MSN Instant Messenger or even Skype then it is important to be aware that the programs saves your chat history. Most programs allow you turn this feature off.
There are number of other places besides your web browser where information is stored on your computer. This data can allow people to figure out what you have been doing on your computer. Media players like RealPlayer and Microsoft Media Play store audio and video playing history. Microsoft Office like Excel and PowerPoint applications store information about the most recently accessed files.
Another important thing to remember is that when you delete a file it is not necessarily permanently erased and can be recovered with the right software. When you first hit delete the file is moved to the Recycle Bin. Even when you empty the Recycle Bin the file still exists on your hard drive until Windows overwrites it.
Here are two things you can do to help reduce the privacy risks from your computer.
- Use a free software tool called “CCleaner” (http://www.ccleaner.com) to clear information collected by your web browser and Windows’s Temp Folder. This software automates the manual process of using your browser options menu to clean out cookies, URL history etc. Try to run this tool once a week or more frequently if you are a heavy internet user.
- If you work with sensitive data files on your computer then you may want to consider investing in secure file “shredder” software. This type of software actually overwrites or “bleaches” the file you want to delete which means that it cannot be restored.
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Summary:
Understand the risk to your privacy from information stored on your computer and some simple tips to boost the protection of your privacy.
Showing posts with label online privacy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label online privacy. Show all posts
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Protect Your Privacy
The internet is evolving rapidly as its uses grow in number and variety. More and more users are shopping online, chatting with their friends, or just browsing the web for something interesting. But the net isn't an entirely safe place; some people out there are waiting to take advantage of you and invade your privacy. There are some special kinds of computer program that can help to protect yourself against such threats. Let's see how a simple free spyware remover program can help.
· How does it work?
Spyware programs are little pieces of software that transmit information about you and your computer to someone else on the internet. It can follow your net usage to see what kind of web-sites you prefer, which programs you use or where you do your online shopping. Some can read private documents, including e-mail and credit card numbers. To prevent this from happening, it is advisable that you protect your computer using a free spyware remover.
· How does spyware get on your computer?
You don't install spyware, but spyware gets installed on you. They are often part of other free programs
that you download from undependable sources on the web or borrow from your friends. It's like an add-on that may or may not be mentioned in the small print, which is something that nobody ever reads.
· How do you recognize spyware?
If you've been experiencing unexplained pop-ups lately, or been receiving a lot of unwanted mail, then try to remember if you installed some unverified software on your machine in recent times. If yes, then it is quite probable that you have spyware on your computer. In some cases, you may receive unwanted info about products that are somehow related to something you told a friend in a past e-mail conversation. If that keeps happening, it's almost an unmistakable sign of spyware activity.
· How do you remove spyware?
The simplest and easiest way to get rid of spyware is to install a free remover that you can download from the internet. Often internet service providers know about the problems created by spyware, and can recommend you a good free remover or they can give you one. Just ask them which one is right and tell them what symptoms you have been experiencing: too much spam, or your computer slowing down because of too many pop-ups. It is very easy to install a free spyware remover, just by following the steps and clicking on the 'next' button. If you think one program is not effective, you can always uninstall it and download another.
· How to prevent spyware?
You can prevent spyware by reading up on web security and by being choosy about what software you install on your computer. After all, prevention is always better than cure. But just to be on the safe side, it is a good idea to keep a free spyware remover on your machine and check things once in a while. If you want a more professional solution than the free versions provide, you can buy a pro spyware remover. Remember, you have the right to your privacy, and nobody has the right to invade it, unless they have a valid legal/moral reason or your specific consent.
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Summary:
The internet is evolving rapidly as its uses grow in number and variety. More and more users are shopping online, chatting with their friends, or just browsing the web for something interesting. But the net isn't an entirely safe place; some people out there are waiting to take advantage of you and invade your privacy. There are some special kinds of computer program that can help to protect yourself against such threats. Let's see how a simple free spyware remover program ca...
· How does it work?
Spyware programs are little pieces of software that transmit information about you and your computer to someone else on the internet. It can follow your net usage to see what kind of web-sites you prefer, which programs you use or where you do your online shopping. Some can read private documents, including e-mail and credit card numbers. To prevent this from happening, it is advisable that you protect your computer using a free spyware remover.
· How does spyware get on your computer?
You don't install spyware, but spyware gets installed on you. They are often part of other free programs
that you download from undependable sources on the web or borrow from your friends. It's like an add-on that may or may not be mentioned in the small print, which is something that nobody ever reads.
· How do you recognize spyware?
If you've been experiencing unexplained pop-ups lately, or been receiving a lot of unwanted mail, then try to remember if you installed some unverified software on your machine in recent times. If yes, then it is quite probable that you have spyware on your computer. In some cases, you may receive unwanted info about products that are somehow related to something you told a friend in a past e-mail conversation. If that keeps happening, it's almost an unmistakable sign of spyware activity.
· How do you remove spyware?
The simplest and easiest way to get rid of spyware is to install a free remover that you can download from the internet. Often internet service providers know about the problems created by spyware, and can recommend you a good free remover or they can give you one. Just ask them which one is right and tell them what symptoms you have been experiencing: too much spam, or your computer slowing down because of too many pop-ups. It is very easy to install a free spyware remover, just by following the steps and clicking on the 'next' button. If you think one program is not effective, you can always uninstall it and download another.
· How to prevent spyware?
You can prevent spyware by reading up on web security and by being choosy about what software you install on your computer. After all, prevention is always better than cure. But just to be on the safe side, it is a good idea to keep a free spyware remover on your machine and check things once in a while. If you want a more professional solution than the free versions provide, you can buy a pro spyware remover. Remember, you have the right to your privacy, and nobody has the right to invade it, unless they have a valid legal/moral reason or your specific consent.
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Summary:
The internet is evolving rapidly as its uses grow in number and variety. More and more users are shopping online, chatting with their friends, or just browsing the web for something interesting. But the net isn't an entirely safe place; some people out there are waiting to take advantage of you and invade your privacy. There are some special kinds of computer program that can help to protect yourself against such threats. Let's see how a simple free spyware remover program ca...
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