Online privacy is vital to computer users and a current cause of concern for anyone planning; an online purchase, visit a social networking site, participate in online games or attend forums.
Privacy violations and threat risks are standard considerations for any website under development.
What are the risks?
Online privacy risks include:
- Phishing; A Internet hacking activity used to steal secure user data, including username, password, bank account number, security PIN or credit card number.
- Pharming: used to redirect a legitimate website visitor to a different IP address.
... Both are Internet hacking activities
- Spyware: An offline application that obtains data without a user's consent. When the computer is online, previously acquired data is sent to the spyware source.
- Malware: An application used to illegally damage online and offline computer users through Trojans, viruses and spyware.
Example: If a password is revealed, a victim's identity may be illegally used or stolen.
A Twitter/Facebook user could get their account hacked (illegally) This could lead to sharing of private information, publishing of violent or abusive language etc. Making out as if the user is committing the crime.
How private is your information online? i-Cloud?
i-Cloud is a storage device used by the highest percentage of people around the world. It is seemed to be very convenient however it has been announced by experts that it should not be used for any emails or photos that are wanted to be kept private. For this reason they recommend people change their passwords at least 'once every three months' and when doing financial transactions and to use the Internet through hard wire instead of Wi-fi. With wifi being wireless hackers are more persuaded to violate accounts easily without anyone noticing.
iCloud seems to be as secure as ever, but the safest way to keep sensitive information secret is to not sync it with iCloud or any other online service (social networking sites inc.). If you have “sensitive” pictures you want to keep private, turn off Photo Stream and they won’t be sent to iCloud and will only live on your device. The best form of security is you just like any service, iCloud is only as secure as you help it to be
“Even though someone doesn't know your password, they can reset the password to something they know and once they do that, they’ve got you”
Companies hold information about you it is up to you what you share and give out but once it's given the companies has it forever. They shold have to ask your permission to share your information however in some sercomstances, this is not the case. Companines and networks hold many thousands of data, it is under their control what they do with it.
"You own all of the content and information you post on Facebook, and you can control how it is shared through your privacy and application settings."
