What are your thoughts about the issues of safety, security, and privacy? What are your concerns? What are your ideas for addressing them in ways that still allow you to take advantage of the value of social networking and media?
As I read the articles and watched the assigned videos on privacy and security this week, I threw myself in the fetal position, feeling the hopelessness that I no longer belong to myself.
But seriously, according to WebHostingGeeks and Privacy International, we have very little knowledge and control about what personal information we share on the web and to whom. Apparently, we have been profiled, not only by the information we shared but by our online behavior. Should we panic?
I started worrying. So, out of curiosity, I googled myself and I found my personal information in pages where I have never participated or consented to share it, yet there it was. Mylife.com, zoominfo.com, voterrecords.com, to mention some. These pages had my full name, age, home address, working address, and they even offer a background check on me!
To access these records, you have to agree to the following: “I WILL NOT use this information to stalk anyone. If I see someone I know, I WILL NOT use this information for blackmail. I WILL NOT harass people whose criminal records appear on this site”. They even give you ideas!
As I stared at the screen, I wondered how they got my info –somehow, I must have given it to them. It took me a few seconds to decide to be proactive about it and found out how to request that my information is erased. I followed the recommended steps –with my fingers crossed that it wasn’t another trap. I am giving them a few days to see if it worked.
In case you are wondering, I did this:
- How to remove your personal data from MyLife.com
- How can I remove my information from VoterRecords.com?
So, all the reading and the googling made me aware of a problem I didn’t know I had. For me, it was just about being careful, and just thinking before posting. As one of the week’s readings said: “…privacy is the currency of our online lives, paying for petty conveniences with bits of personal information. But we are blissfully ignorant of what that means”. (Hess, 2017)
I haven’t decided yet if I liked it better when I didn’t know I had this problem. As I write this post, I still have more questions than answers. My stream of consciousness goes like this: What are my thoughts about the issues of safety, security, and privacy? Am I concerned about my safety? Is ignorance bliss? Who cares about my data? What do they use it for? Is it for selling me stuff? Can a cybercriminal use my information to steal my identity and buy a house in Timbuktu?
Lessons Learned
Whereas I don’t feel utterly unsafe for what I discovered with this assignment, I will be more careful the next time someone –or something– asks for my information. Here are some ideas on how to take advantage of the value of social networking and media while protecting my privacy and keep myself and my data safe.
Lesson 1: Take control!
Shape your digital footprint and make your online presence what you want it to be. This is not that difficult to achieve. Have “public” accounts for your professional online activities and let people find you. Be in charge of what the internet says about you. For example, it makes me happy that when I googled myself, I found my LinkedIn Page and some of my Prezi presentations, they make me look good!
Lesson 2: Just say no!
Do not give away your info. Next time you go shopping and the cashier interviews you to enter the rewards program, just say no! Don’t click on the “Accept cookies” button on random webpages. Don’t open suspicious e-mails. Don’t answer the phone if you don’t recognize the number (let them leave a message; if it’s important they will.) Personal information has a lot of value, keep it safe!
Lesson 3: Technical Precautions
Stop leakage of sensitive information by preventing the transmission of confidential data from your computer and mobile devices. How? Use the incognito browser, delete cookies frequently, check the privacy settings of the apps you use and the sites you visit. Disable your microphone in your phone and computer –someone or something may be listening. Likewise, disable the location services for mobile apps so they cannot collect that data. You can never be too cautious.
Lesson 4: Think before you post!
This one is obvious, but it’s worth remembering it. This is a classic:
