The 3 P's - Proxies, Privacy And Personal Security By Adam Thompson At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

It’s time to consider internet privacy and security and whether and how an internet proxy server can help.

Generally Speaking: What Do Security and Privacy Mean to Us?

What is security to you? Knowing that your home is locked? Having a car alarm? Security is a relative term and it means something different to each person. For example, some people would find having a car alarm to be over-the-top while others would find a car alarm to be a necessity.

Now let’s ask what privacy means to you. Privacy, too, is totally subjective. Some people hate to use public restrooms while others enjoy nudist beaches.

Clarifying These Concepts Online and How an Internet Proxy Can Help

So if security and privacy are such vague concepts in our culture, how do you define and put them into action on the internet? How can they be regulated?

The answer is personal—it comes down to preference. Did you know that when you surf the internet your online behavior is constantly being tracked and potentially documented? Does that make you uncomfortable?

An internet proxy, without getting into too much technical jargon, is a way to surf online with a bit more anonymity. If you’re able to be at least somewhat anonymous when you surf the net, perhaps you’ll feel a bit more comfortable, for starters.

Other benefits of using an internet proxy to give you privacy online are that it can help prevent identity theft and spam. That means safety and security for you and your family. Who doesn’t want more of that?

The Twisted Web

The internet can seem exciting, fun, and friendly. Never before has there been such a vast library of multimedia, interactive entertainment, business communication and more! And it’s all at your fingertips, right in the privacy of your home or office!

With all this zeal that the web incites in us, we forget what a dangerous place it can be. And because we are at home using the net a lot of the time, we think we are in a private, safe place. That is a grave misperception, unfortunately!

The web is neither safe nor private. Having an internet proxy is one way that you can safeguard yourself from the dangers that lie in waiting to prey on you and your loved ones.

One thing that occurs when you are online is that small text files called "cookies" are collected and stored right on your computer about the sites you visited. Sites can access these cookies and this is a potential invasion of privacy. You can configure how your internet browser handles cookies, but a proxy is another way to help.

What Else Helps for Online Safety and Privacy?

A proxy is one method of giving you increased security and privacy online, but it is not an end-all be-all solution, and is not the only solution. Some other things you should consider are using a router (instead of connecting directly to your modem), enabling the Windows Firewall, and getting anti-spyware and anti-virus programs. These programs can detect, prevent, and remove attacks and other issues that come from malicious websites online.

Keep in mind, though, that there are no secrets online, so surf accordingly. You may feel private, and you may be taking precautions, but there will always be someone who knows how to access your information if they really need to (such as the authorities, if you are up to no good!).

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