Today, there is a heated controversy over on-line privacy. With Intel
releasing the Pentium III, and the growth of Internet users, it makes one
wonder just how private their life is.
Many people cringe at the thought of someone looking at the web sites they
have visited, or at what they have bought online. Business say it's their
right to access this information in order to tailor their business to
their customers. There are many sides to this issue and it looks like
neither of the sides have won yet.
Privacy advocates want to be able to cruise the web in private, without
the worry of who may be watching. They argue that a person should have a
right to go anywhere they want without being watched by "Big Brother."
They are concerned with the extent a business (or hacker) will go to find
private information. If the technology exists to see into a computer that
is browsing a web site, who is to say that other information can't be
downloaded? I'm sure that there are a lot of people out there that would
like to know your credit card number!
Businesses on the other side of this issue want the right to study who
visits their sites. This information allows them to better serve
themselves and the consumer. By letting businesses see this information,
new ideas are generated concerning attracting people, and what the
consumers want to buy.
We must also consider our off-line lives. Every time that we go shopping,
companies store information about us. The second largest computer database
in the US right now is owned by one of America's largest retail stores. I
bet you can guess just what you would see in the database.
While Privacy advocates talk about the potential downside of the issue, it
must be said that despite the arguments, there is nothing that they can do
to stop hackers. The user can only prevent hacking with caution. There are
more and more programs out there that are meant to make on-line
transactions more secure and to keep the information that is yours
private.
As for someone looking in on the types of web sites that I visit, I really
do not care. All they will find out that I read WHIM, Zdnet.com, and Cnet.com. Is what we look at on the net so
private? I have to side with businesses on this issue. If you do not
want them looking at where you browse, you should invest in a security
program that helps prevent this. Otherwise, turn off your computer!
What do you think? Leave your feedback below.
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