In most debates about protecting online privacy rights, someone raises this all too common retort: “Why worry about it if you’ve got nothing to hide?”

Many hear people debating privacy issues and think: what’s the big deal? If you’re not doing anything embarrassing or illegal, then there’s nothing to protect. For a long time, people have used this fallacy to debunk the reasons why we need to protect our privacy.

But, as Daniel J. Solove writes in his great article Why Privacy Matters Even if You Have ‘Nothing to Hide’, this argument is flawed because it’s based on the premise that privacy is only about hiding or protecting “bad things.” What it’s really about, is keeping control.

The article smartly draws attention to the fact that we should care about protecting our privacy no matter what.  Even if we’re not concerned about surveillance, it’s the processing of private information that can become problematic – the storage, use, or analysis of data – rather than just the simple collection.

The author uses a great example to illustrate one of the potential harms – what he calls, aggregation; “the fusion of small bits of seemingly innocuous data.”

He writes;

“Suppose you bought a book about cancer. The purchase isn’t very revealing on its own, for it indicates just an interest in the disease. Suppose you bought a wig. The purchase of a wig, by itself, could be for a number of reasons. But combine those two pieces of information, and now the inference can be made that you have cancer and are undergoing chemotherapy. That might be a fact that you wouldn’t mind sharing, but you’d certainly want to have the choice.”

Solove also explores several other ways that not protecting your privacy can cause harm:

Exclusion: When you are prevented from knowing how your information is being used, and could even be barred from accessing and correcting errors in that data.

Secondary use: When your data is obtained for one purpose, but is then used for an unrelated purpose without consent.

Distortion:  When the data obtained reveals a lot – but fails to paint a complete picture.

Even if you feel the organization collecting data about you does not have the intention to harm you – it can still happen, whether through carelessness or errors.

Remember: thinking that you have nothing to hide doesn’t mean you shouldn’t care about protecting your privacy. Taking steps to protect your own privacy is not about being secretive: it’s about keeping control over what’s yours.

Treat your information the way that you treat the rest of your personal property, it might not be expensive – but that doesn’t mean you should give it away.

Late last year The Wall Street Journal published an interesting story that we wanted to share with you. The article, featuring the results of a 2011 Associated Press-MTV poll, found that three in 10 young adults had experienced people wrongfully accessing their Facebook, Twitter, MySpace or other Internet accounts – nearly double the level seen in 2009.

The study was part of MTV’s A Thin Line, a campaign developed to help young people identify, respond to, and stop the spread of digital abuse in their lives. Although some teens might shrug off a stolen password or hacked account as a joke, the campaign is built on the premise there is a “thin line” between a harmless prank and something that could really cause damage to a young person’s reputation or general wellbeing.

If these numbers are any indication, now more than ever kids really need to be aware of the dangers of using shared computers in labs, dorms and even their homes, and always ensure they surf smartly and securely.  

A few quick tips:

• Always ensure you log off any social networking or e-mail account before you leave the computer (don’t just close the browser!)
• Use passwords with superhero strength (containing a mix of numbers, capital and lowercase letters, as well as symbols)
• Change those passwords twice a year, and don’t use the same password for multiple accounts or share them with friends

In the poll, two-thirds of those who had been hacked said that the intrusion led them to change their e-mail, instant messaging or social networking password – and 25 per cent have deleted a social networking profile altogether: all, which could be avoided by smarter, safer Internet use.

In today’s fast-paced digital world, educating young people about the risks of the web is so important and something that should be on all of our minds.  For more on the AP-MTV poll, head on over to The Wall Street Journal. For additional tips from the SurfEasy team on how to surf securely, click here.

On the heels of Data Privacy Day, an internationally known day that marks the importance of ensuring our personal information is protected online, we thought: Why not share SurfEasy’s top tips for highly secure Internet use?

Yes, some may seem pretty simple, but you would be amazed how many people don’t do the obvious.

 1.      Use passwords with superhero strength 

We could write a whole article about this, because the fact is there is a huge range of ways to keep your passwords secure.

That said, there are a few key elements to always keep in mind:

• Use different passwords across your accounts.
• Use a mixture of numbers, and both upper- and lower-case characters.
• Don’t be obvious with your word selection, and if you want to be really good, don’t choose a word at all.
• Change your password twice year, at the very least.
• Never share your password with anyone.

If you already have these elements in place, you’re well on your way to a strong password.

2.      Ask yourself: Is your Internet connection secure?

Many Internet connections are not secure, especially if they’re Wi-Fi connections. In fact, often people don’t realize that public Wi-Fi – such as the connections offered in coffee shops, airports and hotels – are often very risky places do important things like e-mail, banking, and social networking. In today’s world of multiple devices, it is important to trust the network you’re connecting to – whether you’re using a smartphone, laptop, tablet, or a public computer.

So how do you do it?

• Be sure public networks are secured using WPA or WPA2 protocol, and remember that a password login is not an indication of encryption. Often, the password is simply used to pass the pay wall or provide data to the network host.
• The same goes for at home. You must take extra steps to ensure home and office wireless routers are set to WPA or WPA2 encryption protocols, because often wireless routers are shipped with this feature turned off.

If in doubt, it’s always best to use a personal Internet encryption solution whenever possible.

3.      Stay updated, stay protected         

Those pesky pop-ups reminding you to update your software, browser or operating system can be a pain, but it is very important that you heed their warnings as soon as new service packs become available. These updates usually take little to no effort to install and often contain important security upgrades that will reduce how vulnerable you are to malicious activity.

In that same vein, always ensure you have trusted anti-virus software to protect you from malware and other viruses.

 4.      Have a critical eye

Always be mindful of how you surf and who you’re communicating with.

• Be skeptical of e-mails offering you things that are too good to be true – even if it looks like it is coming from a friend, family member or co-worker.
• Remember that no one has any reason to ask you for your password or money, especially when contacting you via e-mail or social media.

 5.      Surf with caution

Continue to keep that critical eye when you come across strange or unidentified links. To protect yourself against cybercriminals who could be phishing for your personal information, resist the urge to click on anything that that seems fishy if.

The same goes for pasting unfamiliar text into your address bar.

6.       Use HTTPS whenever you can

Websites that have https:// before the web address are adding an extra layer of security by encrypting your browsing. It is best to use https:// whenever possible. Most important, never send bank info, credit card numbers, confidential e-mails, or other sensitive data unless you’re sure you’re on a secure site.

The best way to check if you’re on a secure site? Check the URL in the address bar for the https:// and then look for the lock icon in the bottom-right corner of your browser.

 7.       Shared computers: Use carefully!

Attention to detail is key when using shared computers at work or in public spaces because many websites leave you automatically logged in after you close the browser. While some of us find that to be very convenient on our home computers, it’s not always safe: What happens if someone launches your browser and has access to all of your e-mail, contacts and social media activity?

Leaving your personal account open puts you at risk for others to access and use your information. So, no matter what, always be sure to log out of accounts, and clear the browsing history, cookies and cache before leaving the public computer. This also isn’t a bad habit to consider for things like work and smartphones and laptops – because you just never know what could happen.

If you integrate these seven simple tips into your everyday you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’re surfing safely.

Returning recently from the 2012 International CES in Las Vegas, Nevada, our team is still flying high.

Showcasing SurfEasy at Eureka Park – the show’s TechZone carved out just for start-ups – allowed us to have great conversations with people from across the globe.

The TechZone was designed in homage to the “eureka moment” – that a-ha instance that ultimately launches every great idea into a product or service. Throughout the whole show, the energy in Eureka Park was palpable.

A CES first, the area showcased smaller companies and first-time exhibitors – many of whom had some very cool innovations. Participants were offered a special rate for a standard booth – about 20 per cent of the typical cost – which was a wonderful way to increase accessibility to such an important event.

Because Eureka Park seemed to be frequented by very purposeful visitors with a keen interest in start-ups, we were able to have some truly engaging chats with the folks that dropped by. This led us to receive immediate, first-hand feedback from the most tech-savvy of crowds, and we’re happy to report that many we met with seemed just as excited to learn about SurfEasy as we were to tell them about it.

During our week in Las Vegas, the team met with a lot of passionate people: press covering the latest and greatest in technology; distributors on the hunt for one-of-a-kind products; and angel investors and venture capitalists searching for the next great opportunity.

In the end, Eureka Park, and CES in general, was a fantastic space for SurfEasy to rocket ahead.

We also had a little cameo in a CBC story and a wonderful interview with This Week in Tech (TWiT).

Check it out:

Until next time!

source: Microsoft http://www.microsoft.com/privacy/dpd/default.aspx

This Saturday, January 28, is Data Privacy Day (DPD) – a day marked by individuals, organizations and governments across the globe to raise awareness about the impact that technology is having on our privacy rights, and the importance of ensuring that our personal information is protected.

If these issues aren’t top of mind for you, you’re not alone – a recent Microsoft survey suggests that 56 per cent of adults don’t actively think about the consequences of their online activities.

But, with so much of our lives being lived out on the web, what DPD reminds us is that if our personal data and information isn’t carefully managed and protected online, it can have serious consequences for our offline lives, including job loss or even being turned down for a mortgage.

Being thoughtful about sharing personal information is an important component of an overall approach to protecting online privacy and security. We can do this in a variety of ways, including using secure passwords and changing them often, understanding the privacy settings of our web tools, being careful when using open or monitored networks, and always educating ourselves, family, and friends on the issues.

For more great tips on how to protect your privacy, visit staysafeonline.org.