Internet Security
Internet security and internet privacy has been a major issue decades ago and is continuously increasing with the onset of several new technologies like the smartphones, tablets and small devices where you can readily connect to the internet. Likewise, social media like the ever famous facebook and twitter where most people use to post personal information are readily available at a touch on these new devices. The unfamous statement of Scott McNealy of Sun Microsystems “You have zero privacy anyway”, “Get over it” when asked about consumer privacy issues have raised anew as the question on how secure are we when using the internet for our personal data.(Sprenger, 1999). This statement was made around 13 years ago when other smartphones and other current technological devices haven’t been around and users of the internet were still few. How much more today? Or is privacy really possible with the internet?
Personally, I believed that real privacy on the internet is not possible. I think, this is also what Brandon Lynch of Microsoft wants us to know when he said that “There are still people who don’t know what they’re giving up when they sign up for services (online). They don’t know how much value is being derived from their data.” (Polishchuk, 2013) It is implied from what he said that by upon signing up to online services, personal information are mandatorily collected and saved in these companies databases.
Recently, automatic synchronization of social media accounts and other online storage available have also been available like the Picasa and Google drive. This has added to the ease of sharing personal data. Take for example Youtube. Youtube actually has a connection with Facebook since it is possible to create an account with Youtube without the need of signing up but by just using your existing Facebook account. This just illustrates how these Social Media doen’t care for your privacy because they are readily shared to others.
The Android apps of Google for example like Picasa automatically uploads pictures online from your personal gallery even if you don’t intent to upload these once you signup for these services. These can be tricky since other people connected to you may view personal images although this can benefit you by making your files accessible anywhere.
It is already a fact that there is no privacy on the internet. The only way to combat this is for us to keep private things private.
References:
Polishchuk., Polina (2013)Can You ever Delete Yourself from the Internet?. Retrieved from http://venturebeat.com/2013/01/29/delete-password/#mJv3Z1r8VbOtUchW.99
Sprenger, Polly (1999). Sun on Privacy: ‘Get Over It’. Retrieved from http://www.wired.com/politics/law/news/1999/01/17538
