State of Internet Privacy 2016

internet privacy 2016

The internet has become a popular way for people all over the world to stay connected with each other. Whether it is to engage in business pursuits online or just enjoy the chance to chat and enjoy a little bit of casual entertainment, the internet plays a vital role in daily communications. However, one of the most pressing concerns surrounding internet use is internet privacy, and how some criminal elements may choose to take advantage of it.

Most online privacy concerns can be divided between two categories, ones specific to businesses and one specific to personal users. There are overlaps in some of these privacy issues, but business owners have more reason to fear sudden privacy problems appearing at their firms. Distinguishing between these two concerns is vital for any online users, and while measures against both can be taken, online businesses may find themselves working with stronger degrees of protection software to achieve the desired security. Learning to differentiate between your needs according to the concerns is a vital part of properly managing information privacy during your online session.

Business Online Privacy Issues

information and security leaks

For business owners, some of the most pressing concerns involve things such as security leaks and poor management of privacy information by staff. Studies show that the vast majority of information leaks inside of a business are preventable and are done by many of the staff and employees. Whether knowingly or unknowingly, these individuals can compromise the security of the company by forgetting their passwords or using their business accounts of personal use. In such a way, a lot of personal security problems may affect businesses because of employee negligence. Other problems include information and security leaks, such as what had occurred with Edward Snowden.

Personal Internet Privacy Issues

While business owners may hire professionals to help them solve their issues with online privacy software, many personal users have their hands full with other concerns. One of the biggest concerns for anonymous personal users is how much information invisible cookie software agents are beginning to track on browsing habits and personal data. Without the legislation to limit these cookies, individuals will soon be able to be identified on a personal level, based solely on their browsing information. The more personal information that is correlated, the less possible it is to remain completely anonymous.

With how convenient the cloud has made it to access data, it is not surprising that users are not the only ones able to access their private information. Everything that you save and upload, whether they are files or photos, will become a part of a server that belongs to online services, but not you. This makes it vulnerable to a variety of privacy loopholes in accordance to the services themselves, without the data being legally protected in a traditional sense. This can result in huge privacy problems, where those who have access to the information, such as some law enforcement agencies, can use it.

Another problem that many users are expecting is how difficult it will be to travel to any location without someone in the world knowing exactly where you are. Your cell phones are among the primary problems because they can help just about anybody pinpoint your whereabouts. There is a lot of information available that can suggest to people exactly where you are at any given time. This is coupled with the fact that you are always in a marked location when you use your computer at home, and with login times so easy to read, this information is always recorded and stored.

Dealing With These Issues

guard our internet privacy

While there are many privacy concerns, users have developed solutions to help address some of these problems. A password manager can be used to help you store your password information and ensure that it is far from prying eyes. This type of software is designed to tighten up the security process by setting up additional encryptions that need to be overcome in order to access your passwords.

Using Tor networks can be another great way to protect your private information. Tor is a free software that enables online anonymous communication. It directs Internet traffic through a free volunteer network that consists of more than six thousand relays, concealing the user’s location and making sure that they are never watched for their internet usage. It helps keep internet activities anonymous and private.

Other instances of IP hiding software can also be considered for use. These are designed to help hide your computer’s IP address, helping you achieve a greater degree of anonymity. A lot of information can be discerned, just by looking at your IP address, and keeping such data hidden can be a great way to boost your privacy and online anonymity.