Case+Study+-+Google's+New+Privacy+Policy

Starting in March, Google will have a new privacy policy in place. This new policy, depending on whom you listen to, is no big deal ( @http://youtu.be/ur1igv9msBg ) or will result in all your personal information being laid bare for advertisers to plumb for their own purposes. The truth probably lies somewhere in between ( http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/29/google-privacy-policy-changes_n_1310506.html ) but the crux of the issue remains "how much control should you have over your personal information"?

The web site @http://www.spokeo.com will return all sorts of personal information about anyone whose information is available on the Web (see a news story about Spokeo at @http://www.wmur.com/r/23309876/detail.html). However such sites can only get information from public records or through information you yourself put into social media or Web forms. If you do not want such information out there, simply refuse to put it in, or use incorrect information such as an incorrect email address, or "N/A" in a field. The web site for the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy suggests you: > > Ultimately, we are each responsible for our own information and how much it is disseminated. >
 * 1) ** Google yourself. ** Searching your name in Google is a quick and easy way to find out what type of information is out there about you. There’s also a blog that provides a listing of sites that maintain personal information databases (WhitePages, Intelius, etc.). You should be able to remove your information from these public databases. It may take some work, but it may be worth it in the long run. __ Click here for more information __.
 * 2) ** When in doubt, check it out. ** Be cautious; don’t click a link in an email just because it is from a seemingly trusted source. Rather than clicking the link, go to the company’s main website and do some research. Another alternative is to call the company’s customer service line to verify the information. Most banks and other institutions will not request personal information via email, because it is not secure.
 * 3) ** Use multiple passwords. ** Don’t use the same password for all of your online accounts, and never use personal information in your passwords. Creating a password that’s easy to remember, but hard to guess, may seem daunting, but is worth the trouble to safeguard the information that bypassing the password gets a hacker. Some tips for creating stronger passwords include using symbols or numbers in place of letters (a=@, t=7, s=5, i=1, etc.). Another trick is using the first letters of each word from a favorite quote or song lyric. For example, in using Dr. Seuss’ “I do not like Green Eggs and Ham,” a resulting password may be “IdnlGE&H” or “Idn1G3aH.” This method creates many potential variations, especially if you substitute numbers for a few of the letters.
 * 4) ** Don’t store personal information. ** While many people are tempted to save a credit card or other personal information on a frequently visited website in order to save time, this can increase your risk. Also, don’t store information in a file on your computer (unless the file and/or your computer is encrypted or secured).
 * 5) ** Look for the padlock. ** Before submitting personal information (such as a Social Security Number, credit card and other payment information), verify the website is secure. You can do this by looking at the bottom-right corner of the computer screen. When a website is secure, there should be a small padlock displayed there. In addition, many sites now provide a “Certified by” or “Authenticated by” logo or graphic on secure pages.
 * 6) ** Install anti-virus tools. ** Make sure your PC has some type of anti-virus software. Without it, your personal information, as well as your computer’s hardware, software and files are susceptible to attacks from hackers and other malicious individuals. Anti-virus software also prevents your computer from passing on viruses and spyware, should it be compromised. There are many great options to choose from – some are even free, such as Avast!, AVG or Microsoft Security Essentials. Just do a little research or ask a local resource to help you find one to fit your needs.( @http://www.nasba.org/blog/2012/01/19/keeping-your-personal-information-personal-online/)