Protecting Yourself Online Is Important

Almost everyone of us surf pages on the Internet. We look at things we wouldn't even think of viewing while we are in the privacy of our own living rooms. I mean, how many times have you just strolled into the nearest bookstore and smugly threw down the current copy of Penthouse or Jugs magazines? The majority of people would probably be a little bit self-conscious about buying either of these publications.

Yet millions of people, even me at times, like to take a glance at adult-oriented items. Some of us will even purchase a few adult movies or toys to add some zing to our relationships. However, what I am getting at is, when we are online we all tend to do things we don't usually do.

Still, our online connection is a portal into our lives and therefore, to what we do at home when we are alone. All you do online has the potential to be viewed and tracked. Hundreds of people are online this very moment who desire to reveal your internet viewing habits and possibly use that information to blackmail you.

But what we do online is our business alone. A few people may not even want people in their own house to find out what they view online. Think about it, would you want one of your kids looking at the picture of the big-breasted hot blond you were drooling over last week? What if your wife or husband knew you were engaged in cyber-sex with some internet hottie they knew nothing about?

Women, I bet you wouldn't like it if someone like your husband, mother, or fellow worker knew you were harmlessly checking out some vibrators online? And think about how much you might blush if they knew you were considering ogling an all male revue?

Yeah, you might turn into a neurotic crazy person who is forever worrying that the world is out to get you. But why the heck would you want to go crazy with worry?

- Were you aware that the Internet keeps track of all the places people go?

- Were you aware that even if you delete a file, it never really goes away completely? A person doesn't have to know that much about computers to be able to get those files back. Actually, throwing an unwanted file into a recycle bin or hitting delete is one of the dumbest things a person can do if you want that file gone forever.

- Were you aware that identity thieves are able to put SPYWARE onto a computer and you won't even know it? If they do that, they won't even need for you to go online to be able to know everything you do with your computer. They will be able to view it all!

- Were you aware that if your wife or husband, mom or dad or anyone at all desired to keep track of what happens on your computer that they can just put a tracking program on it that does that? These programs can be downloaded and hidden within a computer's other software and many users won't even know. These programs record everything from your keystrokes to every bit of information you view.

Safeguarding your privacy is your responsibility.

In August 1998 my identity was taken by a person in Nigeria. Then, I was employed and going to college. I had just enough cash to barely make ends meet.

The one who took my ID had managed to get a copy of a credit card transaction I had made and used the personal info on it to get more credit cards in my name.

I was due to graduate from college in May 1999. I started putting in applications for employment in the beginning of the fall semester. One of the places I was applying to called me up to talk to me about my credit report. They told me I had more than $3,000 in unpaid bills.

I couldn't even believe it! So, I did a credit check on myself, and unfortunately it confirmed that I owed $3278.22 to a collection agency.

To bring this sad story to a close, my identity had been taken from me. It took three years to fix the situation, but I still get calls from bill collectors trying to make me pay the debt.

Because of that incident, I started my voyage to seek out the best way to safeguard my privacy and protect my identity. This study led me to computer programs that assist me in tracking what goes on my computer and lets me know if something is out of the ordinary and may need me to check it out.

The thing I found most surprising in my studies was that those files I thought I had erased from the hard drive could be recreated so easily! Knowing that fact made me work harder to find a software program that really erased files.