Internet_Privacy

Internet Privacy Xuetong Niu Abstract: In recent years, due to the development of the Internet technology and the improvement of the network, it becomes easier and easier to collect, neaten, and disseminate personal privacy through the Internet. That Internet privacy often suffer from illegal violation has aroused people’s alert. Based on analysis of the status of Internet privacy, this paper comes up some possible solutions to solve the increasingly drastic contradiction between the network information and the personal privacy by improving various management measures and technical innovations. Key words: Internet privacy; Infringement; Protection; Network as a double-edged sword, in bringing prosperity to people to facilitate impeding at the same time, there are a variety of factors of insecurity. In the essay The Value of Privacy of security expert Bruce Schneier, he says "Privacy protects us from abuses by those in power, even if we're doing nothing wrong at the time of surveillance."[1] Those concerned about Internet privacy often cite a number of privacy risks — events that can compromise privacy — which may be encountered through Internet use. [2] According to the analysis, Internet privacy is leaked with following methods. First, some companies use cookies file to collect user’s privacy. Because of misunderstanding cookies are seen so negatively. Another reason is that it goes unnoticed while someone is simply surfing the Internet. The idea would make most users be afraid if all your behaviours on the Internet had been watched. Second, some services use registration information to collect user’s information. Normally Internet service providers do collect at least some information about the consumers using their services (IP address, Passwords etc.).[3] Third, that some of governments collect and follow the trail of users’ information secretly also makes people worried. The FBI's Magic Lantern software program was the topic of much debate when it was publicized in November, 2001. Magic Lantern is a Trojan Horse Program that logs users' keystrokes, rendering encryption useless. [4] Some suggestions about how to protect personal information in an online environment are as follows. On one hand, check your online environment whether secure or not. If there are some privacy statements, read it carefully. On the other hand, it is of great use to use Web anonymizers and clear up the memory cache after browsing. [5] Last but not the least, separate your e-mails and encrypt those. Unnecessary cookies often bring some unsafe factors, so bear rejection in mind. And revealing too much personal information online is sometimes unmeant so think twice to disclose any personal information. Internet has played a very important role in our work and daily life. At the same time, the safety of Internet privacy becomes more and more appreciable along with the rapid development of the network. However, it has a long way to go to find useful ways to protect user’s privacy effectively. Besides depending on technologies simply, it is necessary to improve user’s self-protection awareness. In short, I am firmly convinced that Internet will become safer and safer and will make our life more convenient and colourful. Reference: [1]Bruce Schneier, (May 19, 2006). The value of privacy. Website: http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2006/05/the_value_of_pr.html [2]Matt Schafer, (Aug 2, 2010). Privacy, Privacy, Where for Art Thou Privacy' Retrieved October 17, 2010. Website: http://lippmannwouldroll.com/2010/08/02/privacy-privacy-where-for-art-thou-privacy/ [3] Elwood, S. & Leszczynski, A. (2011). Privacy, reconsidered: New representations, data practices, and the geoweb. Geoforum, 42, 6-15. [4] Ted Bridis, (Nov 22, 2001). FBI ‘lantern’ software does log keystrokes. Website: http://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/archive.cgi'noframes;read=15391 [5] Miyazaki, Anthony D. (2008), "Online Privacy and the Disclosure of Cookie Use: Effects on Consumer Trust and Anticipated Patronage," Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 23 (Spring), 19–33.