How To: Protect Your Privacy Online

I doubt many actually care about their privacy online. May be many are not aware of the consequences. But here is a guideline to make your privacy more protective online.

• Changing your passwords is the key to protect your privacy online

Sounds Crazy? Well, Yes, if someone guesses your password, then your private emails and your activities all can be traced leading to the biggest privacy leak of your life.

• Look at the privacy policy of the online services you use and also before you enter private information in online forms. However, if you are not satisfied with the policy, or if there is no policy posted, avoid giving any personal information to that site.
• Check your browser’s cookie settings. You may accept or reject all cookies, or you may allow only those cookies generated by the Web sites you visit often.
• Do not provide sensitive personal information such as phone numbers, passwords, addresses, credit card numbers or date of birth in chat rooms, instant messengers, forum postings, e-mails or in your online biography.
• Ask yourself if you want an employer, family member, or a marketer to be able to link you to your public postings made in forums, guest books, or newsgroups. Most of these services never delete your postings. Even the one’s that have disappeared off the Web site are usually accessible in the archives.
• Use a pseudonym and a non-descriptive e-mail address when you participate in public forums. Consider obtaining an e-mail address from one of the free Web-based e-mail services for this purpose.
• Be aware of the possible social dangers of being online. Harassment, stalking, being ‘flamed’ (emotional verbal attacks), or ‘spamming’ (being sent unsolicited messages) are just a few examples. Women can be vulnerable if their e-mail addresses are recognizable as a woman’s name. Consider using gender-neutral e-mail addresses and nicknames.
• If your children use the Internet, teach them appropriate online privacy behavior. Caution them against revealing information about themselves and your family.
• Use only secure Web sites when you transmit sensitive personal information over the Internet. When you provide your credit card account number to a shopping site, be sure that the transmission is secure. Look for the unbroken padlock at the bottom right of the screen. Also make sure the Web address has the letter ‘s’ after http in the address bar at the top of the page.
• Be aware that online activities leave electronic footprints for others to see. Your own ISP can determine what search engine terms you use, what Web sites you visit, and the dates, times and durations of your online sessions. Web site operators can often track the activities you engage in by placing ‘cookies’ on your computer.