Internet Privacy
The internet is a vast network which is full of information as well as connections. You connect using the TCP & IP protocols. Once you are connected to the internet, you are open to the network. At the same time, everyone is connected to you and your computer. Hence, it is possible for people to track you & make misuses of the information on your computer. Thus, to hide your identity from the sites you are visiting, you are allotted the right of internet privacy.
According to this right, anyone messing with your identity, using it for wrong purposes & stealing your information is liable for penal action. There are many organizations which are working for the cause such as EPIC (Electronic Privacy Information Center), CASPIAN, CAUCE, PIRG. These sites provide guidelines for internet usage as well as internet protection. There are also many printed publishing & electronic groups which provide the information about internet privacy. There are many encryption softwares available which protect you from getting noticed online, such as Cyber rights, S – mail, etc. Also, there are many HTML filters available which prohibit pop ups or spam on your computer, hence securing your IP address and also maintaining your visual privacy. Email filters safeguard your Email and attachments.
Cookies are virtual address locating codes which enter your PC when you are online. These cookies are easy to be spotted by their hosts & thus your PC is identified. Softwares like Cookie Cruncher (Windows) or Cookie Cutter (Mac OS) remove these cookies from your computer thus securing it.
Some softwares like PGP phone enable voice privacy on your computer & thus protect your online calls from getting tapped or recorded.
Secure Instant Messaging softwares like IMpasse allow safe chatting & filter the chat rooms & file transfers. There are secondary softwares like Fortify (Windows / UNIX), which check the performance standards of your filters & upgrade their power if necessary. TELNET encryption softwares like TTSSH allow safe telnet workings. Disk encryption programs like Safeboot (Windows) are essential to scan your hard drives for any threats or leftovers of any internet history. Password protection programs like VaultletSuite allow you to safely access your emails or files from anywhere.
Site owners can prepare their own privacy policies with the help of Policy generators, which assist in making own policy which meets the standard of the P3P specifications.
The most important tool opted for is Firewall. As the name suggests, it creates a virtual wall in your PC which prohibits hackers or anyone to access your PC. Firewalls are provided with the operating systems or can be specially purchased. They are very useful & people often put more than one firewalls active while surfing the internet.