2008 Woodie Awards
Internet privacy issues can affect you later in life
Scott Wagner
Issue date: 3/23/06 Section: Features
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The term "google" has made its way into common English diction. But does Google know too much about you?
Posting pictures of the past crazy weekend might lose you a job. Nationwide employers are beginning to extensively use Internet search engines as a standard background check practice in job placements. The battle between personal and Internet privacy begins.
The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse in San Diego, CA exists to educate and advocate for the nationalization of Internet privacy.
"The Internet has erased our concept of social forgiveness," said Director Beth Givens.
Companies can look deeply into most online activities that you undertake, especially if you are using your real name. Online purchasing and social networking are among the most risky of these.
Social networking sites are those like Facebook and MySpace. They allow users to chat, post permanent messages, and share photos often under their own names. Facebook, which was launched as an experiment by students at Harvard in 2004, now has over 12 and half million registered users nationwide. Many of these people belong to the collegiate world and now to this huge online community.
Facebookand MySpace invite users to be open about whom they are and what they like to do. And while the college and life experience is generally understood to be one of experimentation in search of awakening your resolution, stop and ask yourself how your time is being documented and conveyed via the web?
Going into an interview it is just one more thing to worry about.
"Corporations will certainly overlook someone who has been documented on one of these sites as acting or behaving consistently out of the ordinary," said Givens.
The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse suggests using a pseudonym.
"A pseudonym is the false identity you present yourself as online. It is your handle or screen name and a much safer alternative", said Givens.
According to the Clearinghouse's website, a screen name carries no legal attachment to the user who creates it. It might as well be a random series of letters or numbers that you have no affiliation with whatsoever. Even using part of your name in your handle can be dangerous because serious hackers are able to track the activities of particular names so anything and everything could possibly come back to you.
Using a handle protects you when you buy products online, too, because your name is not directly tied to your handle or your email address.
"At the Clearinghouse we suggest you make online purchases with a credit card only. Do not use debit. Card companies agree to certain liability waivers which can protect against losses, but debit card purchases take funds from your account almost instantly," said Givens.
Posting pictures of the past crazy weekend might lose you a job. Nationwide employers are beginning to extensively use Internet search engines as a standard background check practice in job placements. The battle between personal and Internet privacy begins.
The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse in San Diego, CA exists to educate and advocate for the nationalization of Internet privacy.
"The Internet has erased our concept of social forgiveness," said Director Beth Givens.
Companies can look deeply into most online activities that you undertake, especially if you are using your real name. Online purchasing and social networking are among the most risky of these.
Social networking sites are those like Facebook and MySpace. They allow users to chat, post permanent messages, and share photos often under their own names. Facebook, which was launched as an experiment by students at Harvard in 2004, now has over 12 and half million registered users nationwide. Many of these people belong to the collegiate world and now to this huge online community.
Facebookand MySpace invite users to be open about whom they are and what they like to do. And while the college and life experience is generally understood to be one of experimentation in search of awakening your resolution, stop and ask yourself how your time is being documented and conveyed via the web?
Going into an interview it is just one more thing to worry about.
"Corporations will certainly overlook someone who has been documented on one of these sites as acting or behaving consistently out of the ordinary," said Givens.
The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse suggests using a pseudonym.
"A pseudonym is the false identity you present yourself as online. It is your handle or screen name and a much safer alternative", said Givens.
According to the Clearinghouse's website, a screen name carries no legal attachment to the user who creates it. It might as well be a random series of letters or numbers that you have no affiliation with whatsoever. Even using part of your name in your handle can be dangerous because serious hackers are able to track the activities of particular names so anything and everything could possibly come back to you.
Using a handle protects you when you buy products online, too, because your name is not directly tied to your handle or your email address.
"At the Clearinghouse we suggest you make online purchases with a credit card only. Do not use debit. Card companies agree to certain liability waivers which can protect against losses, but debit card purchases take funds from your account almost instantly," said Givens.