July 22, 2008I constantly delete my browser history, temporary Internet files, and cookies almost daily in hopes that I can keep my Internet use private. I am hoping that hackers and advertisers (pop ups, etc) are not able to track me down. But according to Steven Rambam, director of the Pallorium investigative agency, any photos, blogs, or web searches that I compose on the Internet are available for anyone who is willing to pay.
Rambam recently spoke at the Last HOPE (Hackers on Planet Earth) conference this past Saturday and discussed the simple ways he looks for people on the Internet. He uses various sources such as social networking sites and marketing databases to find peoples’ basic information and buying habits. He also states that peoples’ Web and computer activities are being stored as data by technology companies and can be easily connected to them.
Maybe people like Rambam are just doing their job, but what about all the other hackers out there? How do we protect ourselves from them? There are products available, such as SurfShield, which allows you to surf the Internet without any saved browser history. Another product, Safeguard, deletes your cookies, browser history, files, etc., without leaving a trace behind. If you are not looking to buy any products, InsideCRM has created a list of 50 ways to keep your privacy online, including a list of more tools to protect yourself.
But maybe having all this access to personal information may not be that bad. The Federal Trade Commission stated that with wide access to personal information online “it is easier for law enforcement to track down criminals [and] for banks to prevent fraud.” But if these criminals are using products to protect their privacy, how is law enforcement supposed to track them? And what if the innocent Internet users who are without privacy protection are the ones who fall victim to identity theft? As the Internet and technology become more advanced, there has to be a line drawn between private and public information, and that line should be drawn by the user.
