Why we should be Careful with our Internet Identity

662 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Privacy issues of Social Networking Sites

Why We Should Be Careful With Our Internet Identity
The Internet as a whole has changed the way the world works, in turn changing the way security works. With the Internet, world communications is at most of America’s finger tips. These security changes directly affect most of America. The main area I wish to look at is social media, the mainstream center of America. Social Media is currently so common that some children ask for social media accounts for Christmas! Facebook having grown to over 1 billion users early this year, twitter growing to 218 million, and even newer sites like Pinterest reaching 70 million users in mid-2013. This is clearly a popular trend that is not going away. With so many users these social media sites will quickly become attack vectors for black hat hackers, if they haven’t become vectors already.
According to an article from HR Focus, with social media sites, the risk of attack increases with the total number of users that site receives. Social media has risen to be the greatest threats against protecting proprietary and confidential information. (HR Focus) Social media sites have grown to allow custom applications to be built and run within the site itself. This is especially true with sites like Facebook, hosting many games built by other users. These games usually access your personal information to give you profiles, which keep track of your stats or village or whatever the game is geared for. But what if someone made an application for the sole purpose of taking your information? Users don’t think about such things happening on Facebook. There is an assumed trust on Facebook that they will not take your information, which is why social media is such a huge attack vector for black hat hackers.
...

... middle of paper ...

..., remains on the Internet for the world to see. We cannot think it’s a distant place in which we can do whatever we want without any real world consequences. Employers almost always check social media sites of potential employees. Law enforcement using social media to confirm or deny certain accusations. Black hat hackers are pushing ever farther to exploit social media and any other online system to get ahold of your information, your identity, and exploit it. We as a world-wide community must together be conscious of what we place and do on the Internet, as it may one day come back to bite us.

Works Cited

"Why Security could be the Latest Challenge to Social Media use." HR Focus 87.6 (2010): 14
5. ProQuest. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.
Wienke, Sarah. "Social Media Presents Business with Opportunity, Risks." Missouri Lawyers MediaNov 23 2009. ProQuest. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.

Show More
Related

  • Why Asking For A Job Applicant's Facebook Password: Fair Game

    859 Words  | 2 Pages

    Using the informal tone he enhances his argument by providing several thought-provoking statements that allow the reader to see the logic in the article, “Social media is designed for the information shared on it to be searched, and shared- and mined for profit… When considering what to share via social media, don 't think business vs. personal. Think public vs. private. And if something is truly private, do not share it on social media out of a misplaced faith in the expectation of privacy” (134). The reader should agree with Edmond that when posting or being a part of the social media bandwagon, you’re life and decisions will be up for display. Moreover, the business vs. personal and public vs. private point is accurate and logical, because evidently if you post something on any social media outlet you should expect that anyone and everyone can see it, regardless of your privacy settings. Edmond highlights that Facebook along with other social networking sites change their privacy settings whenever they please without

    Read More

  • Privacy In Peter Singer's Possible Man

    1162 Words  | 3 Pages

    “The standards of what we want to keep private and what we make public are constantly evolving. Over the course of Western history, we’ve developed a desire for more privacy, quite possibly as a status symbol…”(Singer) Technological change leads to new abuses, creating new challenges to security, but society adapts to those challenges. To meet the innate need for privacy, we learn what to reveal and where, and how to keep secret what we don't want to disclose. “Whether Facebook and similar sites are reflecting a change in social norms about privacy or are actually driving that change, that half a billion people are now on Facebook suggests that people believe the benefits of connecting with others, sharing information, networking, self-promoting, flirting, and bragging outweigh breaches of privacy that accompany such behaviours,”(Singer) This is obvious by the continuous and unceasing use of social media platforms, but what needs to be considered is that this information is being provided willingly. “More difficult questions arise when the loss of privacy is not in any sense a choice.”(Singer) When the choice to be anonymous it taken away through social media, the person loses the ability to keep their personal information

    Read More

  • Summary Of Jeffrey Rosen The Web Means The End Of Forgetting

    1148 Words  | 3 Pages

    Social media and technology plays a huge part in today’s society. People do things and post them up thinking it won’t affect them in the future. Once something is uploaded onto the internet it never goes away. In his essay, “The Web Means the End of Forgetting,” published in July of 2010, written by Jeffrey Rosen, a Professor at Law at the George Washington University Law School and a graduate from Harvard College and Yale Law School. Rosen argues that the issue of social media sites in the new era we are living in is getting hard for us to forget the things we post on the internet like Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Instagram, etc. Rosen states, “... the Internet never seems to forget which is threatening, at an almost existential level, our

    Read More

  • Why High School Fights Should Be Allowed To Be Online

    957 Words  | 2 Pages

    Jeffrey Rosen from The New York Times says “ How best to live our lives in a world where the internet records everything and forgets nothing”(Rosen). A Young woman was so close to graduating for her teaching degree, but when her professor looked back on her old myspace and found a picture of her drinking at a party a few years back, he had told her since she was in fact promoting alcohol and partying she would not be graduating. Larry also states “ And because the data is digital it can be forwarded, archived and searched pretty much forever”(Magid). We all get caught up in the moment, thinking about what's happening now over what could make our future. If everyone thought more carefully about the things they post online they could have more chances and opportunities up the road. So don't let a fight being posted online determine your

    Read More

  • The Privacy Of Privacy

    1342 Words  | 3 Pages

    With social media websites being the main hub of personal information, advertisers are consistently monitoring our social media activity, having the ability to look into our personal information. In the article "Advertising and Consumer Privacy: Old Practices and New Challenges." by Justine Rapp states, “Fueled by advances in capabilities and interconnectedness of computer based technology, advertisers are able to collect and assimilate information on consumers like no other time history” (51). Facebook has become the number one, social media website around the globe. It is the most popular website used by personal and business users in today’s society. In the article “Using Social Media to Reach Consumers: A Content Analysis of Official Facebook Pages” by Amy Parsons states, “As of July 2011, the social network site Facebook claims to have over 750 million members and in the terms of activity.” (27), making it easy to meet and connect with others. Facebook is considered the “hot spot” for online social activity, however, it exposes personal information about its consumers to

    Read More

  • Analysis of The Dove Campaign For Real Beauty

    1839 Words  | 4 Pages

    A. M. Kaplan and M. Haenlein, ‘Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of Social Media’, Business Horizons, vol. 53, no. 1, 2010, pp. 59-68.

    Read More

  • The Dangers of Social Media Correlating to Privacy

    3108 Words  | 7 Pages

    Social medias have become a big part of our society now, they are being used in all aspects of our life. We are connected twenty-four hours a day, at work, school, home, shopping etc. There is a necessity, a need to be connected to these social media’s, to feel like you are a part of society. With these growing numbers in being connected to social media’s on the web, there comes a growing desire for privacy and safety. In this paper I will discuss and analyze the social media’s themselves, the dangers that arise from them, and how all these correlate to privacy.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Importance Of Social Media

    888 Words  | 2 Pages

    Social Networking sites play an essential role in today’s culture as they provide people with the ability to interact, blog, share pictures and videos, flirt, and date without having to move an inch. People pour their minds and hearts into the world of cyber communication; it is an easier way for them to clear their heads without having a face-to-face confrontation. Undoubtedly, this is advantageous to certain people. It helps establish connections with people, friends and family from any corner of the world, but one cannot ignore the extensive privacy breach that occurs in the universe of online social media.

    Read More

  • Facebook's Changing Privacy Policies

    1061 Words  | 3 Pages

    Kirkpatrick , Marshall. "Why Facebook is Wrong: Privacy Is Still Important". Read Write Web. January 11, 2010 . Date of access May 22 2010

    Read More

  • Cyberspace and Identity

    1026 Words  | 3 Pages

    Multiple identities have been increased by the creation of cyberspace communications according to "Cyberspace and Identity" by Sherry Turkle. Turkle uses four main points to establish this argument. Her first point is that online identity is a textual construction. Secondly she states that online identity is a consequence-free moratorium. Turkle's third point is online identity expands real identity. Finally, her last point states that online identity illustrates a cultural concept of multiplicity. I disagree with many aspects of her argument and I have found flaws in her argument. Technology is an area that does not stand still and consequently outpaced Turkle's argument.

    Read More

  • How Technology Impacts Our Privacy

    891 Words  | 2 Pages

    The first aspect being addressed is the problem with social network sites exposing information. Social networking has created an environment where it is nearly a duty to expose oneself. Profiles on these social websites are updated everyday with personal information such as locations, status, and future plans. Anyone can search another’s name and find information about their history, pictures, and activity. With the help of social networking sites...

    Read More

  • Privacy Issues and Facebook

    1275 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... led to a diversification of the people who create and maintain them. This can be anyone. Putting personal information into the hands of a stranger is risky outside of the Internet, but even more so online. The ease and speed of the mobility of information means no information is safe on Facebook. Anyone who can see it can copy, save, or redistribute the information at will. A broad and deep aggregate source of information makes search and retrieval of anything posted on Facebook quick and easy. If somebody wants information about you they know how and where to look. Finally, this information can be passed along and analyzed in order to draw conclusions about you and your lifestyle. These can be stereotypical and false. Facebook and other social media sites, and more broadly information technology in general has greatly impacted our lives and our right to privacy.

    Read More

  • Social Networking Essay

    836 Words  | 2 Pages

    Almost over a billion people use Social Media Websites daily in order to get in touch with their Loved Ones, Family, and Friends. These sites are widely used to share photos, experiences, and loads of other personal items. They are no doubt a valuable tool for marketing, social, and entrepreneurial purposes but they have some really serious downsides as well. There are a lot of risks concerned with Social Networking Websites. For example, Disclosure of private and personal information, Bullying, and harassment, stalking, child Abuse, mental attacks in the form of Negative, racial, sexual, and Offensive comments, phishing, viruses, hacking, click bait, fraud, and inappropriate links, etc. are associated with Social Networking

    Read More

  • Internet Privacy and Security

    847 Words  | 2 Pages

    Facebook, twitter users endangering their right to privacy (2010, Jan 08). The Hindustan Times http://ezproxy.sbhu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/471264556?accountid=3783

    Read More

  • Causes And Effects Of Social Media Essay

    1048 Words  | 3 Pages

    Social network sites have without a doubt become an important part of everyday life for many people, considering that Americans live in a country of technological advances. From people constantly checking their Facebook page to people posting pictures on Instagram, social media has changed people’s behavior and the way that they communicate with others. Social media includes websites such as Facebook and Twitter. This essay will focus on the causes and effects of social networking on the daily lives of American citizens.

    Read More

More about Why we should be Careful with our Internet Identity

Open Document