Protecting Your Privacy Guide
Enhancing Your Computer and Online Privacy
You should research these and other products and decide which products fit your needs.
An important way to help enhance your computer privacy is to install and keep up to date these types of programs:
- AntiVirus program such as Kaspersky Labs Anti-Virus, Norton AntiVirus, McAfee VirusScan to name just a few.
- Software firewall such as ZoneAlarm (available in free and paid versions) and Norton Personal Firewall. If you run Windows XP or Windows Vista and don't choose to use a third-party software firewall, make sure that the Windows XP or Windows Vista firewall is turned on.
- AntiSpyware program such as Spy Sweeper by Webroot.
There are many Internet Security suites available that bundle together antivirus, firewall, and antispyware plus other features such as privacy management, spam blocking, pop-up blocking, web content filtering, and parental controls. Popular suites include ZoneAlarm Security Suite, Computer Associates CA Internet Security Suite, Norton Internet Security, and McAfee Internet Security Suite.
Many of us already have programs on our machines that can help with privacy intrusion such as spam and cookie management.
- Most email programs provide some message filtering capability — some harder to master than others.
- Many Internet security programs do many things including managing cookies and helping to control spam.
- Web browsers have privacy settings that you can control including to show cookies and allow you to choose which cookies to accept.
- Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) may provide junk mail filtering.
Looking for “privacy controls,” “spam,” “email filtering,” “email controls,” “cookies,” under “HELP” on any of these programs should lead you to instructions on how to use these tools. Beyond that here’s some more specific information on spam blocking and other online privacy protection tools.
Spam Blockers
While many Internet Security Suites have included spam controls in their products there are still numerous standalone products and services available — free and pay — that may help control the spam reaching your inbox. Many products reside on your computer and work with your email program. Others are services that don’t require any software on your computer to work. Many work only with a specific email program or specific type of email. No product or service is perfect—incorrect tagging or trashing of email does occur. So look for a program that allows you control over the process or at least allows you to review the culled messages before they are deleted.
Before choosing a product or service, determine what type of email you have. Various types include POP3, IMAP, web-based, AOL, MSN, Juno, Hotmail, Yahoo, and others. If you don’t know what type you have, check with your Internet Service Provider (ISP) (check the customer service web page for starters).
Some programs filter, some just tag messages. Various methods used include black lists, white lists, bad word lists, and Bayesian filters. Make sure you choose a program that uses a combination of methods. If you receive email newsletters, you want to make sure to choose one that allows you to control the process. Many newsletters have had problems with spam blockers inappropriately blocking delivery.
The Tips and help for regular users page at spam.abuse.net has a list of spam e-mail blocking and filtering products and services. Information provided for each item includes operating system, a short description, and whether it is a product or service. The list also includes tutorials for setting up filters in email programs such as Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora, and procmail.
If you want to try an email program with good filtering capabilities, try PocoMail ($39.95), Mozilla Thunderbird (free), Pegasus Mail (free), or Eudora (free).
Other Privacy Tools
The EPIC Online Guide to Practical Privacy Tools has short descriptions and links to all sorts of tools to help you preserve privacy. It’s from the Electronic Privacy Information Center.
Spyware
Spyware usually refers to software that has been installed on your computer without your consent and controls or monitors your computer use. There are numerous spyware programs that do some or all of the following: pop-up ads, monitor your Internet surfing, redirect your computer to websites, and record your keystrokes. Read more about Spyware from the FTC.
There are many antispyware programs available—some do a better job than others. One of the most highly rated is SpySweeper by Webroot. Unlike antivirus programs, you can run more than one antispyware program. You may want to have one program that runs automatically and several others that you run yourself.
Check out the quiz: Beware of Spyware — Learn the Clues! from OnGuard Online.
Rootkits
A rootkit operates in a computer secretly and silently. Rootkits may be used to log keystrokes, collect information from the computer and send it to another computer or control the computer. This group of software programs—it's usually more than one—is usually installed so that the operating system doesn't know it is there. Another issue with rootkits is they aren't normally detected by a computer's usual security tools. The good news is that rootkit detectors are becoming available and are being included in the most recent versions of some Internet security suites. The bad news is that if your computer gets infected by a rootkit, the computer hard drive will have to be wiped clean and the operating system (and all the software) will have to be reinstalled from scratch. Botnets, Hackers, and SPAM (OH, MY) from OnGuard Online provides more information.
Improve Your Computer Security
Keeping your operating system and browser updated and patched is highly recommended. Automatic updates and/or automatic downloading of updates is available for most operating systems, browsers and security programs.
Try using browsers other than Internet Explorer. The Firefox (free) and Opera (free) have excellent security and privacy features that are in advance of those provided by Internet Explorer 6. If you are still using Internet Explorer 6, you should upgrade to Internet Explorer 7. Internet Explorer 7 has improved security and privacy features. Firefox and Opera are free and are available for Windows, MacOS, and Linus machines.
Many homes now use wireless networks. Your financial, personal information and privacy can be at risk using your home wireless network unless you have secured it properly. Most networking components are not secure right out of the box but can be made secure (or more secure) by changing several of the settings. Experts recommend that you secure your home wireless networks by doing the following:
- Change the default password
- Restrict access to the network to specific computers
- Encrypt the data on the network
- Change the SSID
- Install a firewall
- Install and maintain anti-virus software
You can read more about these items in these articles:
- Securing Wireless Networks from the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT)
- Securing Your Wireless Network from the FTC (.pdf)
- Wireless Communications: Voice and Data Privacy from the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
- Test your Wireless Security knowledge with the quiz: Invasion of the Wireless Hackers from OnGuard Online
To learn more about these cyber security topics and why it is important, read the Cyber Security Tips from US-CERT.
Another site to visit is OnGuard Online with tips on computer security, broadband, phishing, spyware, email scams, ID Theft, wireless security, social networking sites, online shopping, Internet auctions, P2P file-sharing, VOIP, Cross-Border scams, laptop security, investing online, malware, computer disposal, and kids' privacy.
These articles have more information about protecting your privacy both online and off.
- Your Privacy For Sale from Consumer Reports is about data brokers.
- Privacy: What You Do Know Can Protect You from the FTC
- Privacy Choices for Your Personal Financial Information from the FTC
- Safeguarding Your Data from US-CERT
- Understanding Hidden Threats: Corrupted Software Files from US-CERT
- Defending Cell Phones and PDAs Against Attack from US-CERT
Protecting Your Family's Privacy Online
Social Networking sites have become a favorite of tweens, teens and even adults. These sites can pose a risk to your family's personal information but you can take steps to reduce that risk. These articles from the FTC can help: Social Networking Sites: Safety Tips for Tweens and Teens and
Social Networking Sites: A Parent's Guide.
Targeted Advertising
Targeted advertising is becoming more prevalent. Advertising networks use cookies to track the sites you've visited and the searches you've made and then use that information to display ads to you. The premise to targeted advertising, is that if the ads are more relevant to the viewer, then the viewer will click on the ad.
Several advertising networks will allow you to opt out of ad cookies. Instead of a cookie with a unique id number, the id instead indicates that you've opted out. If you delete all your cookies, then you will have to opt out again. Note that this type of opt out is per browser, not per computer, nor per person.
Opt out of various advertising networks:
- Google's Ad Serving network and DoubleClick
- Members of the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI)
- Yahoo! and Yahoo! partner sites
Another option is to use the browser settings to manage cookies. Advertising cookies are typically from a third-party. Find your browser cookie settings (In Internet Explorer, look under Internet Options. Cookies setting are located on the Privacy Tab by clicking the Advanced button.) and choose how you want to handle them. Having your browser prompt you for first-party cookies and block all third-party cookies can be a good choice.
You'll also want to check your privacy settings on any site where you have an account. For example, Yahoo allows members to edit their marketing preferences.
| A note about third-party links – By selecting links on this page, you will leave DCU's web site and enter a web site hosted by an organization separate from DCU. We encourage you to read and evaluate the privacy policy of any site you visit when you enter the site. While we strive to only link you to companies and organizations that we feel offer useful information, DCU does not directly support nor guarantee claims made by these sites. |
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