User's Guide to Online Privacy
- 1. Understanding Privacy on Social Media and the Internet By Christian Deschenes
- 2. Not So Private • Reports of the NSA copying millions of faces a day for their facial recognition software • Facebook’s “Digital Shadow” claims to know who you really are by colleting all of your data • Soon to be personalized advertising that takes your top two best friends on social media and combining them as a personalized target advertiser for the customer • Malls/Companies are reportedly collecting location info. on where users searched for WiFi when shopping
- 3. Tools to Obtain Online Privacy • Encrypt, Encrypt, Encrypt! • Choosing a Correct Browser • Disabling Online Tracking • Setting Smart Phone Preferences • Understanding Social Media Privacy Settings • Update Software, Programs, and Apps as much as possible
- 4. What is Encryption? • Form of cryptography • Scrambles data into algorithms • Once data is scrambled, a wide range of possible items blend in data • User’s with valid access have a “key” to obtaining the encrypted data
- 5. What to Encrypt? • Browser • Text Messaging • Cloud Data • Computer/Smart Phone Hard Drive • Whatever else you use (if available)
- 6. Encrypting your Browser Using a site like: HTTPS Everywhere • Creates protection from spyware and hackers who track data online • Easy to install/use • Always nice that it’s Free
- 7. Text Message Encryption • For iPhone users, use apps like Wikr and Silent Circle • For Android users, try TextSecure for encrypted texting • Only downfall is trying to get other friends to use it!
- 8. How to Encrypt the Cloud • Using software like: SpiderOak can encrypt data on the cloud • Protected even if company is somehow breached (by hackers/malware) • Only user has the “key” to their data on the cloud
- 9. Encrypting Hard Drives • For Apple Macintosh use default program: • “FileVault” • For Microsoft Windows use default program: • “BitLocker” • For other generic Hard Drive encryption use: • “TrueCrypt” • Encrypt your smartphone hard drive (if possible) • Really no way on an iPhone
- 10. Other Encryptions • Encrypt email (if possible) • Use: Gnu Privacy Guard • Can’t fully encrypt yahoo or gmail yet • Encrypt your Instant Messaging Program! • Mac: Adium • Windows: Pidgin
- 11. Choosing a Browser with great Privacy Settings • Mozilla Firefox most likely has the best privacy settings • Reviews add-ons before installation to help prevent spyware and hackers • Really user friendly, quick install and clear privacy policies • Clearly and Accurately informs users of their data collection
- 12. Disabling Cookies • Cookies are programs that gather info. about a user • Cookies allow a web site to store information and later retrieve it • Seems like a complete invasion of privacy
- 13. Be ‘Smart’ with your Smart Phone • “Free” WiFi isn’t so free when the companies offering it is tracking your usage • Those free/addicting games are so fun when you realize that these companies are completely recording your data • Be sure to understand apps privacy settings before installation
- 14. Understanding Social Media’s Privacy Settings • Make sure to set your profile on private! • It will only allow accepted friends to view a user’s profile • In today’s world it’s becoming more and more important to watch what you say and post on social media, even previously posted items • A program called “Simplewash” completely reviews all the data that a user has posted on social media
- 15. Keeping Programs and Apps Updated • Hackers feast on old software • Once one hacker is in, it is available to all of them • Be sure to regularly check software for updates
- 16. Quick Tips: • Change the personal name of your smart phone and devices, so data miners won’t be able to put your name with a location just from your device’s title • Be smart with your passwords, don’t use the same password for everything, and make sure to not use public info. for security questions • Turn phone on Airplane mode when playing “free” games to avoid tracking • Use multiple email addresses to separate advertising and personal data • Make sure location services are turned off on your smart phone also to avoid tracking
- 17. The End Sources: • http://www.propublica.org/article/privacy-tools- encrypt-what-you-can • http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/07/technology/pers onaltech/protecting-your-privacy-on-the-new- facebook.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 • http://computer.howstuffworks.com/cookie1.htm • https://ironsocket.com/blog/7-quick-tips-for- protecting-your-online-privacy/