Top three myths about the InternetMyth 1. Pressing the delete key prevents anyone from accessing your file again.
FALSE: Deleting a file or e-mail opens up space on your computer to store more information. Until that space is written over, your file can still be recovered. There are software programs that will write over the empty space until the file is actually deleted. For PC users you can download the free Eraser program at
www.heidi.ie/eraser/download.php. If you use a Mac, you simply need to choose “secure empty trash” from the Finder menu.
Remember that just because you have deleted files from your computer that does not mean third parties who have handled your files have deleted them from their storage. Google's privacy policy says that although you may delete messages from your view, your deleted e-mail messages may remain in Google’s offline backup systems for an unspecified period of time.
Myth 2. The law requires that a Web site remove your information, profile, old resume, or pictures if you make a written request.
IT DEPENDS: According to the FTC, a Web site must honor its privacy policy. So, if the Web site has a procedure for requesting removal, it must honor that procedure. However, many Web sites do not have a policy granting requests for removal of information. In addition a Web site may change its privacy policy at any time. You should know that anything you put on the Internet might never be removed. In cases of threats to your life or harassment, contact the police. If you believe that information on a Web site is libelous (false), contact an attorney.
Myth 3. Unsubscribing from spam e-mails will reduce the amount of spam you receive.
FALSE: Often a link to unsubscribe in a spam e-mail is a means for the sender to know that the e-mail reached an actual recipient. You should just delete the spam. You can find tips on how to reduce unsolicited e-mail messages at
www.spamcop.net. The PRC's Fact Sheet 20 provides a list of additional Web sites that provide spam-fighting tips,
www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs20-spam.htm. To learn about state and federal spam laws, go to
www.spamlaws.com.
Are cybercafes, airports, libraries and other publicly-available Internet terminals safe? For some things. We advise that you do not use public terminals to access your bank account, check your credit card statement, pay bills, shop, or access any other personally or financially sensitive information. Publicly available Internet terminals are not likely to be closely supervised to ensure online privacy and security. In addition, they are used by many individuals every day.
Ask the company that operates the public terminal how often they check their computers for spyware. Find out if they have installed a program that deletes cookies, erases surfing history, removes temporary files, and clears Internet caches. If the program does not automatically activate when users logoff, find out how you can run the program before you end your session. (Cache is a file on the computer’s hard drive used by the browser to store Web pages you have visited, documents you have retrieved, and graphics from sites you’ve recently visited. When you use the BACK feature, or any other means to revisit a document or Web site, the browser first checks to see if it is in cache and will retrieve it from there because it is much faster than retrieving it from the server.)
Is WiFi and other wireless access more dangerous than other types of connections?Coffee shops, libraries, bookstores and many universities offer free WiFi (wireless fidelity) or wireless connections to the Internet. Additionally, more and more households are setting up wireless networks whose signals spill over and allow access from down the street. Although using these free signals is appealing, please remember that unless you’ve created it yourself, you cannot be sure of the security on a wireless connection.
Wireless connections to the Internet are relatively new and security is an issue that’s being addressed by many experts. We suggest you be extremely cautious when accessing the Internet wirelessly. Getnetwise.org offers some great tips on using wireless Internet safely, at spotlight.getnetwise.org/wireless .
Can an online service access information stored in my computer without my knowledge? Yes. Many of the commercial online services such as AOL automatically download graphics and program upgrades to the user's home computer. The subscriber is notified of these activities.
But other intrusions are not so evident. We explained Microsoft’s WGA earlier. News reports have documented that some services have admitted to both accidental and intentional prying into the memory of personal computers. Companies typically explain that they collect information such as users' hardware, software, and usage patterns to provide better customer service.
It is difficult to detect these types of intrusions. You should be aware of this potential privacy abuse and investigate new services thoroughly before signing on. Always read the privacy policy and the service agreement of any online service you intend to use…..
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