The Internet has brought us many great services, new methods of contact, and access to products and services. With all of the good aspects there are of course some bad, such as the fact that other computer users can compromise your privacy. With the right tools at your fingertips, you can protect against such actions.

Cookies are used in web development to store information about a user. It’s useful for a login feature that remembers your log in details, for instance. Cookies can also be used to track the websites you visit and other vital information you wouldn’t want to share with just anyone. Cookies can be manually deleted, but having a program do so at regular intervals is easier. In addition, such programs are free or inexpensive.

Your IP address, which stands for Internet Protocol, is the number that is assigned to your computer. The IP address is used to map where you are and who you are according to that data. IP addresses have been used in good situations such as tracking illegal file sharing, but has also been used in privacy-demeaning instances. Hiding the IP address through proxy programs is the best bet for keeping private.

Using a wireless Internet connection poses risk to computer owners. Since other users are on the same network, they can employ tactics to gain access to your computer either through security holes or through social engineering. Either way you can protect yourself with network security programs that detect intrusions as they happen, defending your computer from harm in the process.

To help alleviate the burden of Internet users on a slow connection, websites have been storing local data on client computers for a long time now. The data could be image files and basic information, but even that information could be found by others who use your computer and could be sensitive. Clear such files on each closing of the browser to be extra safe on what information is stored about your browsing habits before letting another use the computer.

Security programs are also making use of what is called stealth ports. This mode of security simply takes the ports of one’s computer and hides them from pings. For those who aren’t computer savvy, this essentially means that the connections you have with other computers will only be open when they need to be. This safeguards your computer against anyone trying to see if you have security holes to exploit.

In Conclusion

The Internet has a time and place for sharing information, but not all of your information is something that you want to share. Sharing something such as your location, for instance, would be something that you wouldn’t want every stranger to on the Internet to know about.

Learn more about Freeraser and KeePass.