Sunday, February 26, 2012

Before Google’s New Privacy Policy Goes Into Effect, Learn How To Remove Your Search History

Google will be implementing a new privacy policy  on March 1, 2012.  This is a unified policy that will affect all of your Google accounts, and any information collected on you before March 1st.  It will also include any information Google collects on you in the future.

Currently, all of your Google searches and visited sites (Google Web History) was kept separate from all other Google services.  Your Web History tells a story about you that you may not want others to know.  This story can include your location, gender, sexual orientation, age, health issues, spiritual beliefs and so much more.  

In order to stop Google from merging your Web History with any information gathered about you from Google + or YouTube, you should remove everything from your Web History.  Not only that, but you should also have the detailing of your Web History stopped from the present into the future. 

The steps you need to take in order to do this are as follows:

First, sign into your Google account.




Next, click on “Remove all web history” button.

 Finally, click “OK”.

Notice that by removing your Web History, you are also pausing it.  The Web History will stay off until you decide to re-enable.

When your Web History is enabled, Google will keep your records indefinitely.  However, it you disable your Web History, your records will be partially cleared in 18 months.  Also, some customized search results that would normally be sent to you will be barred.   Following the advice in the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Six Tips to Protect Your Search Privacy will help you to lessen the amount of records Google will keep on you.

Keep in mind that you will need to follow these steps for each Google account that you have.  It is also important to note that Google will still be able to store your  information to use internally.  Disabling Web History will not prohibit Google from sending any information stored to any law enforcement agency, if requested.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Facebook’s Timeline Causes Privacy Concerns


Facebook’s newest version is on its way to your computer.  Timeline hasn’t even made a widespread appearance yet, and it’s already causing people to bring up some privacy concerns.  As with all things Facebook, this newest version has its good points and its bad points.  However, if you read the Privacy Policy and take the time to set your privacy controls, you should be able to continue on with your love of Facebook without too much worry.

Most of the issues raised about Timeline involve the new feature, “Maps”.  This feature takes all of the information you ever posted to Facebook…events, locations, jobs, pictures…and uses it to “map” your Facebook life.  All of your friends will be able to see where you’ve been, what you’ve done and who you’ve been with.   All of this information is posted on your wall along with the dates that each particular thing happened.  This is one feature that you cannot opt out of.

According to Facebook’s Privacy Policy:  “We receive data from the computer, mobile phone or other device you use to access Facebook.  This may include your IP address, location, the type of browser you use, or the pages you visit.”  When you agree to the Terms and Conditions, you are letting Facebook know that you have read, and understood everything in their policies.  You should know and understand that there is information gathered about you and that information will be shared with others in the Facebook community.

Each time you or a friend uploads a picture to Facebook from a GPS enabled phone, you are tagged to the location and the information goes on your “map”.  Whenever you update your profile to show a new home town, or new job, that information will also have a place on your “map”.  Even if you don’t update often, your map will show past updates, pictures and posts regarding your life events.

Even your choice of music will be public knowledge if you listen using Spotify.  When Spotify first became available, you had no say in the posting of what you were listening to.  Due to an outcry from users, you are now offered an option called “Private Listening”.  There is a slight problem with this though:  if you restart the application for whatever reason, or you don’t use it often, you have to remember to reset the “Private Listening” option.

 Now, think of all the times you posted an RSVP on Facebook by clicking on “Will Attend” to an event.  Also, how often do you click on the “Like” button for a particular product, cause or service?  Each time you do this, the people on your friends list will be asked to either attend or “like” because you are “attending” or that you “Like” them.

Another thing you need to be aware of is that if you use an app to read an article on line, and that app asks for permission to “Allow” your information to be used, you are not just allowing for that one particular time.   You are “allowing” that app to get your information every single time you read something.   Each time you read an article, that information will be posted on your Facebook wall.  If you don’t want people to know what you’re reading, don’t click on “Allow” unless you think very carefully about what this would mean at a later date.

Yes, this is a lot for you to have to think about, but isn’t your privacy worth taking a little bit of time and effort?  Read and fully understand all of Facebook’s policies, then once your account is switched over to Timeline, carefully select the privacy preferences you feel most comfortable with.  And, please remember that clicking on “Attending” or “Like” isn’t as harmless as you would have thought when it comes to your privacy. 

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Why Should You Use A Proxy Server?

Have you ever thought about how cyber-criminals are able to steal your identity?  They do this by following the digital tracks you leave behind whenever you log onto the internet.  This new brand of crook sits waiting for someone to let their guard down, so he can pounce. 

When you go to your favorite coffee shop to have your morning coffee…or even if it’s to unwind after work… and you decide to take out your laptop to send out some e-mails, or do some shopping, you could be putting your identity at risk.  Whenever you use a public hotspot, the WiFi connection may be free, but the penalty could be very costly.  Think about it…how many other people are also using this connection?  You see all of the open laptops, but some of those people may be hard at work hunting for information.

The internet connections in public places leave you vulnerable to identity theft.  Any information you send through this connection  is unencrypted, which means anyone who can find your IP address can intercept your data stream and see everything that you are doing.  

The internet is such a vital part of all of our lives and we are at the point where we don’t give a second thought to entering our personal information.  Every day, we sign up for online newsletters and interesting websites.  We shop on line because that way, we’re not limited to store hours.  Each site asks for a user name, an e-mail address and a password.  If we enter this information over an unencrypted connection, that cyber-criminal posing as a fellow businessman will be able to use it.

With so many websites, newsletters, and social networking sites to sign up for, at one time or another, we have all been guilty of using the same user name (usually an e-mail address) and password for everything.  After all, how can we be expected to remember 20 different passwords?  If a cyber-criminal has intercepted your data stream while you were sending e-mails, he now has your e-mail address and a password.  Once he has this information, he can go through all of your e-mails and collect information from them.  He also now has a password that he can potentially use to open other areas of your on line life.  Bank accounts, on line shopping accounts…your life will be laid out before him.  

If you use the same password for your social networking site, this thief can get into your account, which will tell him your name, location and names of your family and friends.   He is now armed with your name and city, so now it’s not only your identity that is in jeopardy, but also your home and family. 

The only way to deter a cyber-crook, other than never again using a public hotspot, is by using a proxy server.  With a proxy server, not only can you surf the net anonymously by hiding your IP address, but all of the information you enter is encrypted.  Even if someone could intercept your data stream, he won’t be able to decipher any of the information, so it would be useless to him.   

Don’t let a cyber-criminal into your life.  Start using a proxy server today!