THE MOST DANGEROUS WEAPON OF TODAY: INFORMATION
Why You Must Protect Yourself On The Internet
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Have you ever seen this sign?
What did you do then?. I bet you straightened up and rearranged
somethings right? Do you know that at this very moment there is a huge
invisible camera looming all over you? Well what are the chances that someone
is actually watching? Let me inform you that anytime that you switch on your
data on your mobile phone or your pc the invisible camera starts recording. I am
talking about the internet.
The internet has made our lives much richer and simpler but
everything, including the internet, has its bad side. I can predict that you,
who are reading this right now, have online accounts all over the internet,
especially the social media platforms. We all spend much time on WhatsApp,
Facebook, Twitter etc. even to the extent that some people withdraw from
society.
The Internet provides a certain escape from the reality we
fear and even makes it possible to create a virtual life the way we wish that
real life is for us. We recreate life through the things we put on the internet
(like posts and cloud storage) and the things we take from the internet (music,
pictures, videos etc. that we download) and we are anxious for people to see us
the way we want them to. However, everything we do on the internet and however
we do it is recorded, complete with specific times and detailed personal
preferences. The evolution of cloud storage makes it more difficult for the
internet to forget all the personal information we feed it on daily basis.
Before social media, the concern of putting your
personal information on the internet came from legitimate organizations
unethically misusing the information. These days, social media simply gathers
all those personal pictures, recordings and posts and simply scatters them over
the internet. Therein lies the danger. At first glance, there really is not
much to fear because of some very serious measures being put in place. However,
the danger arrives when we become persons of interest to anyone who decides to
take us on.
DANGERS THAT THE INTERNET POSES
1.
YOU (THE BIGGEST THREAT TO YOURSELF)
The internet is a huge collection of all
things anyone wants to share; I mean all things. Thus, you’ll find almost
anything you want. You must be careful what you feed yourself. This is where
the nature versus nurture argument that social scientist are engrossed in comes
in play. The best and worst are on the internet, much of which can be gotten
free. The internet is a loaded gun put into your hand and pointing at yourself.
When you step into this very beautiful world of information chaos, please be
careful what you allow yourself to see, hear or feel. CHOOSE WHAT YOU FEED ON.
Many people feed on angry things early in the morning so their days turn out
grim. One way to positively use the internet is to find items that give you
joy. Funny videos or clean jazz and classical music are positive ways of
starting your day. The thing about information is that, once we assimilate
information (accept), we work with it unconsciously. Avoid negative feed like
pornography, violent videos, sorrowful recordings and provocative posts. You
have the power. Decide to intentionally feed right.
2.
YOU AGAIN (THE BIGGEST THREAT TO YOURSELF)
Anytime you fill a form to register for any
website, internet service or social media platform, you are basically giving
the internet all information by which you can easily be identified and
differentiated. Think about it, Google knows who you are and so does Facebook.
They have records of all your searches on the internet, all your stored or post
photos, recordings and post. They can make good guesses about who you are and
what you like. Your whole life is being recreated on the internet. Just go on
Google.com and type in your name and see the magic that happens.
How many more websites know you? How much
more information have you put out there? As I said, the internet does not
forget. Your whole entire history can be traced on the internet. This
information can be used in two main ways:
a.
The you neutral way: don’t assume that the
legitimate websites mean it for your good. On the contrary, think of them as
wanting only to appeal to you more so that you’ll continue to use their
services and that they’ll earn more money. I’d say they are not yet decided. No
matter what privacy settings you have, your information is still at arms reach
to them. They just need to figure out how to make much more money of you.
b.
The you scrutiny way: remember that the internet
camera is recording. All that is left is someone deciding what to do with the
recording. These days employers go online to verify who you are. At just a
click, they can see your whole identity printed over the internet and make
decisions on that. A simple comment like “I hate this burger” may mean you’ll
never get to work in any burger firm. Even worse are online predators. These people
go on the internet to look for vulnerable people to dupe and even physically
attack. Predators understand how the internet works so they recreate new identities
that they hide behind (all they have to do is go on Facebook and steal
someone’s profile and pose as them.) and come to you as pious people who can
either help you or need your help.
WHAT TO DO
You must be highly sensitive to everything you do on the
internet. It could come back to bite you anytime. You could follow this tip:
1.
Have a goal; a definite goal.
Don’t just switch on your data and surf
away. Determine exactly what you want to achieve. Many people have Facebook
accounts simply because their friends are on Facebook and they fear being left
out. Others just want to show how modern they are; on top of the time. Some simply
want to be popular. If you’re in this categories, please take time and think
deeply of what exactly the website you’ve signed up for will do for you. With
goals, you won’t act on emotions and sheer pressure.
2.
Censor the information you provide online.
Make sure to attribute value to everything
you type on that keyboard before you press enter. Be cautious to read all terms
and conditions and agree with them before signing up for various websites. Most
legitimate sites will provide notice if anything in their terms and conditions
change. Do well to read and re-read.
3.
Privacy Settings
You can access your privacy settings at the
settings or preference button on most websites. Visit as often as you can to
change how your post should relate to other people.
4.
Watch the time you spend online
While you bury your face in the screen of your
pc or mobile phone, know that real people with real value pass you by in real
time in real life. Focus on building the reality of your life. At the end of it
all, it’s all that matters. I suggest that you go on a personal project to
reduce the time you spend online and have someone who monitors you and alerts
you when you spend too much time online; preferably your mom or dad.
REFERENCES
a. iMAGE 1 Retrieved from https://spectreperu.com/#portfolioModal5 Sep 13, 2018 ; 16:05:51.
b. iMAGE 2 Retrieved from https://www.twopretzels.com/2017/01/see-ya-later-baby-monitor-hello-full-on.html Sep 13, 2018: 16:38:09
c. iMAGE 3 Retrieved from https://www.skybit.info/tin-thi-truong/page/72/ Sep 13 2018; 16:35:32
d. IMAGE 4 Retrieved from https://www.technomedia.org/2018/02/internet-des-objets-35-milliards.html Sep 13, 2018; 16:05:51
a. iMAGE 1 Retrieved from https://spectreperu.com/#portfolioModal5 Sep 13, 2018 ; 16:05:51.
b. iMAGE 2 Retrieved from https://www.twopretzels.com/2017/01/see-ya-later-baby-monitor-hello-full-on.html Sep 13, 2018: 16:38:09
c. iMAGE 3 Retrieved from https://www.skybit.info/tin-thi-truong/page/72/ Sep 13 2018; 16:35:32
d. IMAGE 4 Retrieved from https://www.technomedia.org/2018/02/internet-des-objets-35-milliards.html Sep 13, 2018; 16:05:51
UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED, THIS ARTICLE IS MY ORIGINAL WORK
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