Description:
Chris Peterson has created a highly pragmatic guide for all those who want to enjoy the benefits of the Internet but are concerned about maintaining their privacy. Peterson examines the trade-offs, showing how properly shared information can provide you with important services, from enhancing your health care to protecting you from criminal activity. The flip side, however, is that erroneous information can prevent you from finding employment, deny you credit, or even bring you into conflict with law enforcement. Individuals can use Peterson's information to determine how much personal information they are willing to divulge. Peterson also shows how to watch for online scams and how to deal with the possibility of erroneous information. Several times throughout the book she pauses for a "privacy profile exercise," which enables you to discover what information about yourself is already public on the Internet or what information is being exchanged between your computer and others to keep track of your online activities. A special section deals with children online, the risks they face, and what steps you can take to protect them from both commercial and personal predators. She also covers the steps currently being taken by government and the private sector to assure you greater control over private information. --Elizabeth Lewis
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