Is the Internet private?
Many of us use the Internet daily without thinking about who can see what we are doing...do you feel like your conversations / emails are private? Who can see us?
What about e-commerce? Should we feel safe to bank and buy on the net?
posted by Jeff Whipple at 6:29 PM
35 Comments:
Well of course I think that we are being watched when we are on the internet (its the world wide web).
I don't feel safe about using the net for online banking or buying because of all the things that you hear in the news, about how hackers hack into the banks or store computers to get credit card numbers and personal information.
I know we are not allown. This is very unsetteling and in another way reassuring.Unsetteling because any one and everyone can tap into your computer and find out anything they want.Reasuring for the same reason if someone is trying to stock you or your child you can fight back with the same tools they used to find you. They big thing is like everything else if we live in fear we are not living. In time they will or one of use will develope something to protect ourselves from people looking to take asvantage of us.To move ahead in life we have to be will to take chance.Living in the www. world is one of those chances.
There will always be good and bad in everything. That is the balance in life.Yeng and Yang it is what we do with it that will count.
We are never safe in this world because of certain people who decide to make us live in fear for their own pleasure. These people who stalk others or steal their identities are the reason I don't feel safe on and off computers. But if these people really want to they will stalk you or tap into your private lives. Personally, I don't reveal too much information on the internet mainly, because I don't trust everybody. I don't allow these people to control my life, I don't spend too much time feeling scared or paranoid. I just try to stay safe by not chatting or going on-line too much. I don't bank or give out any banking/credit card information on-line or anywhere else.
There is no safe place in this world and I am always trying to be careful to keep myself and my family safe by never revealing too much personal information to anyone. People have to be careful, always!
I sort of knew that if I was with a reputable company that was providing my server that they would be able to monitor my email messages and that no one else could access them. I use to think that the only way people knew what was on my computer was by actually having your computer and going through your files (history).
It scares me to know that someone can access your personal information on the internet. Although I really haven’t thought about it to seriously until today’s class it has made me rethink about providing information on the internet. I have shopped a few times on the internet and have been very pleased so far, I also pay bills through online banking. It is just so convenient. Who wants to go out in -30degree weather, with blowing snow, icy roads, stand in line…you catch my drift… to pay bills. One of the reasons why I have trusted shopping and banking online is because of the little box that pops up and tells me I am entering a secure site. ok. Well now that I think about it, Am I? I would hope that the bank that provides this service would ensure that every measure is in place to prevent any identity theft from happening. I will probably continue to use internet banking and shop online and take my chances. I will only deal with reputable companies who I know and hope that I am not the “one in a million” (just an expression, not really sure of statistics,) that becomes a victim of identity theft.
No, I don't feel that the internet is especially a safe or completely secure environment as far as privacy goes, in regards to banking and things like that. I know that a lot of sites have security blocks on them, banks and shopping sites, but how do we know that they are really that secure, especially when it takes a few clicks of a hacker to break into a million dollar shopping website. I have shopped online before, but still I don't completely trust it, I am just keeping my fingers crossed I guess. That's the same for banking, what we see as secure, doesn't necessarily mean somebody else doesn't find it secure enough to stay out of our accounts. Every time you surf online, you are traceable, by a small means of an i.p. address. If that is the easiest means of tracking information, then we are all in big trouble! As far as anybody else looking into our business, well, if it's governments, or whomever else, they have all their own professional hackers to do that and who knows who's been reading your personal emails and checking out the latest transactions you've made at Winners! No, it's not as secure as it should be for consumers, but it is also not secure enough for predators and criminals. Thank goodness now there is a way to track them also. But, I do wish there was a more secure feeling every time you want to pay a bill, or do a bit of shopping. Thank you! Melissa E.
No, I don't feel that the internet is especially a safe or completely secure environment as far as privacy goes, in regards to banking and things like that. I know that a lot of sites have security blocks on them, banks and shopping sites, but how do we know that they are really that secure, especially when it takes a few clicks of a hacker to break into a million dollar shopping website. I have shopped online before, but still I don't completely trust it, I am just keeping my fingers crossed I guess. That's the same for banking, what we see as secure, doesn't necessarily mean somebody else doesn't find it secure enough to stay out of our accounts. Every time you surf online, you are traceable, by a small means of an i.p. address. If that is the easiest means of tracking information, then we are all in big trouble! As far as anybody else looking into our business, well, if it's governments, or whomever else, they have all their own professional hackers to do that and who knows who's been reading your personal emails and checking out the latest transactions you've made at Winners! No, it's not as secure as it should be for consumers, but it is also not secure enough for predators and criminals. Thank goodness now there is a way to track them also. But, I do wish there was a more secure feeling every time you want to pay a bill, or do a bit of shopping. Thank you! Melissa E.
I'm not so sure that the internet is private anymore. I use online banking to pay my bills, but I'm always scared that someone will see my personal information, such as my banking information. I'm not sure if I will use it anymore, because of the hackers.
On the one hand, I'm glad that someone's watching the internet, that someone's watching out for our kids safety. I'm always scared that my kids will give out too much personal information, and a predator will try to lure them to a place to meet. I'm always telling them not to give out their address or phone number, and not to give out too much personal information, because someone might try to use that information to find them, and hurt them.
I don't feel safe using the internet, and that's why I don't chat on line. I check my e-mails, and that's about it. I don't know if I'll ever feel safe using on line banking again.
Mary
Good Morning everyone:
NO I don't believe that it is safe, I never believe it either! There are always people other there trying to other smart other people or system! I believe that if a person wanted to they could hack to the Revenue Canada Info. There are people out there that have no conscience and will take your identity without thinking twice and "sell it for a dime". I saw a documentary on Dateline. Stealing your personal identity and banking information the posting it online. People were actully buying it and making thousands of dollars off it. Today in Canada we don't have that many officers or agents who look after such crimes as interent fraud. BUT they realize there needs some changes to be made. That is what
W-5 stated when they also did a documentary on this topic. It is very scary, but I believe it will get worse before it gets better. My question is to the Class "Were we better of without the internet?"
Of Course not, the internet is from being private! The internet is nothing more then a network of servers aka "other peoples computers". And just like your ISP ( Aliant, Rogoers, Etc) they can moniter whos visits their sites and all that. You also have to log on to the interent through your ISP, and they have these huge servers that you connect to, to get onto the net, and they can see everything your computers does, on the net, Now if they can see what you do off the net, I dont think so, but you never know!! Ever computer as an IP Address, it's a number that idenitfies your computer, and where ever your computer goes on the net, it leaves that number behind! There is always a trail! That's a good thing, because that is how they catch the "bad guys!" Now as for banking online, I do it, and I'm really not scared at all.As for chatting and email, yes some one is watching, but if your not a bad guy, hiding something, or trying to do something bad, then who cares, they don't know you, and why should they care, who is going out with who, and blah blah blah. As for shopping online, you do have to be careful. Look at their security information, how are they protecting you? Read up on who you want to buy from, Ask questions! There are sites that are encrypted with a 28bit code, and that's where I would totally trust, YES some one is watching, but if its the "bad guys/Hackers" probably not! Also, you usually get a pop up, telling you that you are about to use an unsecure site, do you want to proceed?.. Now that is your choice,, Kind of like use at your own risk!! but then again, every computer leaves a trail, so even if someone got some one else's personal info, and actually used their credit cards, it can be traced, and also including the protection that they credit card company provides, they will be caught one way or the other!... So yes the internet it NOT private, and there is some one ALWAYS watching and that's what provides the protection for you!
It is unsettling to know that the information we gather, use, share and give is not safe on the internet. That is something that should not surprise us though considering we already knew how public the internet obviously is. We can access information from so many locations around the world, and we are exposed to viruses, spyware, adware and other things similar to those while getting that information.
It's kind of like us not wanting anyone to see us in our own homes.. what do we do? we draw the curtains, close the doors. That keeps certain things out and keeps others from prying, but at the same time, prevents us from viewing a world we may otherwise enjoy from time to time. This can be likened to the internet except the curtains and doors are virtual and they are in the form of security settings and privacy software. It can keep things out, but it prevents us from viewing things we might want access to, even if it's the simplist of information (ie. certain words block info from streaming through.)
Admittedly, I do believe in the securities of some institutions like my banking, but given the most recent news on winners, I have a small sense of paranoia when I think about other sites that I purchase goods and services from. Can my financial information be hijacked when I book a flight on Air Canada or buy reading material from Chapters? Probably. Will it prevent me from using those online services? I doubt it because of the ease and convenience of using those sites.
I am aware that I may be "picked up" so to speak on messenger or chat rooms, but if we really don't want that threat of exposure, then don't go on the internet. Simple as that. Can't be snooped on if you are not online right? And I agree with Lorraine, at least if there was invasion of privacy that is hurtful or dangerous, then at least the same tools they have used to invade us can be used to track them down, if the effort and time is there.
Either case, the internet, private or not, is deemed a necessity in today's society. Print is slowing down, and the need for fast information is always going to be there. Like anything else, take cautions with information if you don't want anyone privy to it.
I am absolutely sure that people can see your information online. there are people who make a living on hacking and stealing one's identity, acount information, etc.. Whether we like it or not information that is entered into the computer can be accessed. We are often told never to put our personal information into our computers for this purpose, so doing this is basically taking a risk.When we use a computer there is always another computer personal who can see what you are writing. I don't know who is watching but i know someone is. Whether or not people decide to purchase or bank online is their decision but i think that they should be careful or have some sort of insurance. Personally, i never purchase nor do i bank online.
lisa
Conversations and emails are not private expecally on the web. Everyone see's the web so someone from the other side of the world probably even gets our conversations and emails. i would think bankin online would be save but really it aint when you listen to the news you hear alot of people gettin jacked from other people. The in internet is not safe for anything, people see it. Its just like the telephone you can pick up peoples conversations without them knowin.
i really thought some things were private and sucured through the internet! it really makes me think there is no privancy and sucurity. makes me nervous now with online banking. if you save your name and password on your computer to remember me! it is possible probably that someone else could get access. it really makesme nervous.
from carla ward. I believe that the internet is basically safe, its like anything else, you always have to take precautions when you are on the internet, knowing that anyone may be watching what you are writing. To me if anything is that personal and you dont want anyone to know your personal business than of course you are not going to post it on the internet. On the other hand Emails are always fun to receive and its also fun to send Emails. All in all always take precautions when on the internet.
After the lecture we had yesterday. I have mixed feelings. At first, I thought is was semi-private. Now I am convinced it is not private at all. I feel anyone that is capable of retreiving personal information on another person will do so. And i mean personal info such as creditcard #, where they live or work. They can even spy on you on the web cam.They also see what you are up to on the computer. So I feel it not secure at all. That is my opinion.
I feel that the internet is not that private and there are people who want to get information about us. I am not sure how they are able to do this, and quite honestly, I was not that scared of internet banking until yesterday. It is frightening to think that "hackers" are able to retrieve our personal banking information on-line. Last class has made me a bit nervous, oh wait...I don't have much $$$ in my account anyways!!LOL Talk to you guys later.
I don,t think your e-mail and your conversations are private. There are so many people on chat-lines,they can see and read your conversations. Anyone that has a computer can access your personal information. They are so many hackers on the internet who are able to retrieve your personal information. As for on-line banking and shopping,I do not use them. I feel very uneasy about that.
There are so many computer specialists out there that they can just dedicate themselves into hacking like last summer a couple of young couple were going from province to province stealing from atm machines. They scammed a lot of people till they were caught. I don't trust anything onlne, that's why I never really learned or computerized any of our accounts or online shopping. I know as a fact that a person's identification can be stolen. A fellow employee's id was stolen, they had his and his wife's occupation, their ages and they even made up a false address in Ottawa somewhere. It took them a long time to recover from their ordeal. I do not and never really will trust to put my personal information in the computer. I don't even trust phone calls anymore either because they can even hack you by just answering the phone. Computers are good to a certain extent but I can never really trust them. We've worked hard to get where we are and so easily it could be taken away from us.
the comments are great and interesting to know i am not alone. It made me think on Tuesday's class because i did not really put any serious thinking when i went on line. Even though i watch news and hear alot of hacker, and people geting caught with crimes, lastest one is the huge case on child prono chain, start in in other country and canada in involved they even know how many people in canada are involved, 103 in cases in canada. So even though it is not secure with going on www, we are also protected, how well, is my question. With 21 century do we need lots of people to employ in computer security and more secrity program to be in place?
I am aware that when i go on line in the provincial edcuation school computer, i know they are watcing in frederiction, where the main server is. But on the other hand they block alot of legal sites that i cannot go on line from there, so probably the reason is they are not secure for them, it can be from viruses or non-secure site. So bussinesses and main servers like rogers and aliants are trying to protect us.
I do not chat that often, nor shop on line, i would like too though. i did not do it yet, but alot of people like it. i will get a small limit visa and try it, just to try it. Yet i do on-line banking and i love it. Well i keep banking? yes. That still do not mean that i feel totally safe. Did the people that do not use on-line banking think that tellers keept paper record when you actually go in the bank. Watch them, they use computers and you have to slide your debt card in the matchine. Your information come up from somewhere in the computer. I feel it's no differnece on-line, only convience for me.
anything we do on www is tracable and we are not totally safe, we need to educate ourselves and our children about these issues.
I do not go on the Internet to chat with anyone let alone send any messages of a personal nature. If I feel like chatting, I do it either one-to-one or on the phone. It's enough that I am telling one person, why would I want others to know. I am not secure in the idea that my privacy is sacred. I have ordered and paid for things on eBay using my credit card and I really regret doing it. Luckily, I have not had any repercussions doing so. I can say that I will be less trusting in the future. I feel that anyone can see your information like government, employer, criminals, Aliant, hackers, etc. I believe these people will use this information to their advantage and to your detriment.
GAIL: I do not go on the Internet to chat with anyone let alone send any messages of a personal nature. If I feel like chatting I do it either one-to-one or on the phone. It's enough that I am telling one person, why would I want others to know. I am not secure in the idea that my privacy is sacred. I have ordered and paid for thing on eBay using my credit card and I really regret doing it. Luckily, I have not had any repercussions doing so. I can say that I will be less trusting in the future. I feel that anyone can see your information like government, employer, criminals, Aliant, hackers, etc. I believe these people will use this information to their advantage and to your detriment.
I feel that it should be safe to buy items on the internet, but it should have a garentee that no one will be able to access your personal information. There are people that can do that, and it should be the person selling online responsible to keep that information safe for people to be able to shop online. But even shopping anywheres is not safe, people can steal from the people that are shopping, so I feel we are really not safe shopping with credit card or debit anywheres online or not. I've seen it happen.
There is no way; I am putting any personal information on the internet for other people to invade my privacy. Only information I will provide is what I want to share with others. If I need to have a private conversation with some one, or reveal any personal information to a business, I will either call or visit them. As for e-commerce, I‘ll rather go to them directly and do my banking personally. But all the convenience they provide for their customers, for example; debt cards, credit cards and interact machine, it so hard to resist. When I go an update my banking transactions, I could kick myself in the butt. Just seeing how much money I have spent unnecessarily, and paying up to four dollars for the convenience they provide for me.
rose levi
I'm paranoid by nature so I don't believe in any websites assurances that my private information is safe and cannot be accessed by third parties. I don't do online banking, I don't buy things on the internet and I don't reveal private information while having an online discussion for safety's sake. I know alot of people who have done all of these things with no repercussions but it make me think of this funny quote from my brother John, "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you." it's relevant when talking about the internet because it's true, you don't know who's out there or if they're out to get you (your personal info).
I was reading the comics in the telegraph journal yesterday and I found the Frank and Ernest panel to be funny, they were at the savings and chequing bank when one says to the other,"With direct deposit of pay cheques and auto payment of your bills, it does away with the illusion that you actually see any of your money."
So true, so true.
No, I don't think that the conversations/ emails online are privat because on my messenger I can log all conversations. So there, no privacy. As for the banking, I'm not sure about it. I haven't heard of any one who's money has been stolen or been hacked into. I haven't banked or shopped online, yet. And I don't think I will, either.
I think whatever you post whether it ise-mails, blogs, or instant messages on the net can be easily accessed by others. Also I've heard of people hacking into people's computer to get banking information and credit card numbers. Therefore I would not trust on-line banking or shopping.
I think that internet is safe enough I guess, I do my banking and also have odered a few thing's on-line, mind you, I only give out my personial info. to the companyies or organization's that I trust. I do at time's get a "yack's I hope this is OK moments", write after placing an order using my credit card's.
I think that the internet is safe to a point...I mean that I do all my banking and shopping on-line and nothing has happened thus far. When it comes to e-mail and stuff like that I think that the internet is not secure enough and anyone that knows there way around computers can access them. I have a my space account and over the holidays someone hacked into it and was posting messages to people so I had to go and change my password. All depending on how secure the site is that you are on.
I personally think the internet is a safe place... I do banking online, i purchase things online, I gamble online, and talk to ppl online... I've been doing these things for the past couple of years and havent had any trouble with security problems, or hacking... although... I have heard of horror stories..infact i know of someone who steals credit card information and has been getting away with it for awhile... so maybe for some ppl it isnt as safe as it has been for me :s..(knock on wood)
I really don't think that the internet is a private place. People use firewalls and that isn't one hundred percent private. There are people out there that can hack into anything they want practically. A far as them getting into one of our MSN conversations, unless they have good reason too, I think we are safe. I do know, or I have heard rather, that there are systems that scan everything for key words in conversations and websites wo pin point any terroists plots, for example. In reguard to credit card fraud, I can't say that anything has happened to anyone I know. But I do know that it has happened to others, all you can really do to keep yourself safe is to take procautions. Services for banking and other institutions are usually pretty safe, I have never heard of fraud being committed on the on-line baking. If there was it would definatly be a first for me.
I think there is always the possibility of finding out your information on the net. I think most of our conversations/emails are private to an extent. There is always someone keeping tabs on society like the gov't, hackers, Bill Gates....
Well it depends on how the consumer feels about banking and buying on the net. Do you feel safe when you give credit card info on the phone? Some people do andn some don't. For some people covenience is an issue for some people it's not. I am not sure how I feel about banking on line just yet. I am still trying to learn more about it but until then I will continue to do my banking the hard way I guess.
To answer the question of whether I feel like my conversations and e-mails are private; to be honest, I never really gave it much thought until you asked that question. Now that I have researched it some more I feel that we are definitely being watched. All that I knew before is that you never give personal information on-line. It brings predators/stalkers to mind. And then there are those forwards that you mail to everyone on your contact list; these were specifically designed to gather as many e-mail addresses as possible for spams. So be careful not to forward or open any mail that you are not familiar with. It may also contain a virus. I found a site that you might be interested in which explains in more detail the many different things that you need to watch out for, at the following link (www.safecanada.ca).
As for feeling safe to bank and buy on-line. I would be extremely careful about buying online. How well do you know the person that you are dealing with. This too, is addressed on the safecanada site. Someone suggested that if you are going to order on-line, purchase a credit card that only has a limited amount of money specifically for that order. I would also not do on-line banking mainly because it is just a personal preference; my big day is "pay day" and I enjoy the human interaction of smiling to the person who is taking my money while I am paying my never ending bills. One more thing, type your name in Google and see what you come up with. Do not type anything on the computer that you do not want other people to see. Someone shared this story with me, this person had worked on an assignment and put a little poem on there to emphasize her point. The poem itself took on a life of it's own and was highly debated on-line.
hi jeff,
I don't believe that the internet is private, I believe that there is always someone watching or at least able to access our information or past history easily. It is scary to think that there are people out there that do these things for a living, and purposely go out and harm others credit and use personal information against us. They say that there are secured sites that banks and other places claim that are secure but it is hard to put all your trust in them because hackers can eventually hack into these programs if they spend enough time doing so. I love the internet and think its a great tool for education but I feel that there is negative aspects that can make the net a harmful place. I hope everyday when i go on the net that no one is watching or waiting to ruin me or my name, and i hope that someday we find a way to make sure it is completely safe.
the internet is definitely not a private and secure place. We all need to be aware of the dangers. I've recently just learned how to email so imagine what kind of mess I could get into trying to purchase or do my banking on line. Therefore, thanks to all my classmates comments for making my opinion about how private is the internet, even stronger!!
I dont think that the internet is a safe place, i think its just a virtual place where people hide their true identitites. There are so many gross people in the world and honestly if your chatting on the net then you really never know who your talking to. That certain person could lie to you and manipulate you to meet with and maybe even murder you if you go along with plans. I think the internet is pretty scary. And what about those people who are hackers who can easily access your personal information such as pin # to you credit card. Now thats just messed up people who have the intelligence to that type of thing can easily obtain your home address and stalk you. maybe i am a little paranoid but its true you hear about this kind of stuff everyday.
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