Using the Internet Securely

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To their woe, students and other web users have learned that the internet is not a secure medium. Incautious use of some of the most popular social networking tools--such as Facebook or Myspace--can leave a person vulnerable. Last week's Newsweek highlighted this fact with the article Web of Risks, and About.com recommends you Treat Your Facebook Page Like a Resume (see links).

But other aspects of your internet use are insecure, too, such as your email which is vulnerable to snooping, cookies which track data from your computer, or your browsing history which reveals every website you've visited.

EPIC (the Electronic Privacy Information Center) provides a comprehensive Online Guide to Practical Privacy Tools. Among other things, these tools will help you

• encrypt email,
• surf anonymously,
• block popups,
• eliminate cookies,
• erase your files thoroughly,
• secure your passwords, and
  
• create firewalls.
  

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The photo green was originally uploaded by trAvelpig at Flickr.