The ever-increasing use of and dependence on the Internet always leads to an intense debate about the crucial importance of Internet security and privacy for the user. There are several problems responsible for Internet pollution and most of these germinate from the user’s lack of knowledge about what to share and how to share online. A basic fact that users should always keep in mind is that anything they upload, download, or share over the Internet can be accessed by anyone, one way or another. So whether it’s free Wi-Fi service or a personal Wi-Fi hotspot, it’s always best to take precautions to avoid online fraud.
privacy issues
Social networks
In recent years, we have seen the sudden rise of social media and its dramatic impact on people. While using these social networks, we often forget that it is a virtual world and people can be misleading here. People active on social networks, especially teenagers, are now convinced that they need to lead a pseudo life on these networking sites to get the attention of others. In order to make their friends show what a great life they are having, they often put private information on these sites, not paying attention that this information may be misunderstood and used by others.
In addition to online scammers and pornographers, Internet privacy rights are often hampered by advertisers on social networks. These social networks sell private information about your life, your tastes and your geographical location to advertisers to earn extra money. Privacy is a big question on social networking sites and the only way to protect it is to regulate only the information you choose to share on the Internet.
Cookies and Malware
A cookie is a small information file that the website sends to the user’s web browser to track who their frequent visitors are. It’s a good way to gauge viewer preferences, and it’s a great way to effectively maintain your audience. Although a cookie is nothing more than a small file that contains information about the user’s online activities on a particular website, it can really become a fatal weapon if this information falls into the wrong hands. Imagine, if someone with bad intentions gets all these files, they can see which website she visited, the transactions she made, the details she entered, etc. The risks are increased in the case of online transactions, since the email address and password are also saved.
However, cookies are not harmful, but some websites store cookies in the visitor’s web browser without their permission. In cyber law, it is a serious crime because it often becomes the trigger for malware, spyware, adware, and other spam. To safeguard user privacy, Internet laws have been revised several times in recent years. The US government has introduced cyber laws such as the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect Internet IP Act (PIPA) to extend its control over the Internet.
To hack
Unauthorized network access or hacking is one of the most common threats experienced by Internet users. Hackers are actually online scammers who gain unauthorized access to your account, computer, or network; by doing so, they can enjoy complete control over your transactions and can misuse your network or account for illegal purposes. This is more common on free Wi-Fi and public Wi-Fi networks, as many people access and share the same connection. To stay safe from unauthorized access, it is highly recommended to use personal Wi-Fi hotspots. In this, the user’s connection is encrypted by security codes and the user can share the access only with whomever he wants to share.
Also, people who transact online need to be careful enough. Payment gateway pages that have SSL (Security Sockets Layer) and HTTPS (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure) encryption are the most reliable for online transactions. SSL creates an encrypted connection between the user’s web browser and the website and protects private information from eavesdropping, data manipulation, and message forgery.
With the advancement of internet technology, scammers get smarter to carry out illegal online activities such as hacking, phishing, spyware and virus attacks, identity theft, cyberbullying, child pornography, etc. Therefore, it is time for Internet users to act smart and gain some insight on how they can enjoy a safe online browsing experience.