Things To Consider With Internet Privacy

The issue of privacy and the internet is a particularly relevant one especially in the light of the recent Wikileaks saga and the need to have privacy controls in place. The internet is unregulated but there are concerns about the risk of sensitive or personal information being made available to the general public.

No one wants to see a heavily policed internet which would stifle innovation, experimentation and other forms of self expression which are part of its appeal. But there needs to be balance between free speech and protecting personal information.

Internet privacy This refers to the storage, access and display of information about an individual which is personal and in some cases, potentially damaging if made public. This includes:
- Bank details, e.g. accounts
- Medical information
- Personal information, e.g. age, name and address
- Reviews/feedback
- CRB check

It is up to you how much information you reveal about yourself and there is information which can be shared without causing any damage. But information relating to personal finances, such as online banking needs to be kept private.

There is a risk of information such as this being hacked into it so it is important that you have safeguards in place when carrying out financial transactions. This means ensuring that your computer's anti virus software is up to date, not writing your user name and password down, shredding personal documents and checking your bank and credit card statements.

Identity theft This is a growing problem as it has become easier for criminals to steal personal information in order to commit fraud or other crimes. They use this information to set up bogus accounts or commit crimes in your name.

The consequences can be serious. It can mean large sums of money being taken from your bank accounts but also means a bad credit rating, difficulty in taking out a loan or mortgage or being unable to get a job due to a poor reference.

Tips for protecting yourself online There are things you can do to protect yourself against identity theft which include:
- Keeping any user names and passwords safe. Do not write these down on paper and leave lying around.
- Keep personal information in a secure place
- Shred documents such as bills or bank statements rather than throwing them in the bin.
- Notify your bank immediately if your cards are stolen or lost
- Check your bank and credit card statements on a regular basis to see if there any unauthorised withdrawals or items you cannot account for.
- Make sure that you have up to date anti-virus software and spyware.

These are all easy to do and won't take up much of your time. It is better to be safe than sorry.

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Adaptive Consultancy is an online marketing company who specialise in website design, eCommerce, and internet marketing, including SEO, PPC and SMO. http://www.adaptiveconsultancy.com/internet-marketing-company

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