Hey Guys, Lindsey here again! today I'm going to talk about and
reflect on the concept of Cyber Security with regards to Cyber Stalking and
Identity theft. First I'll take you through some of the videos and articles
that we found in class and then I'll talk about a few more interesting Articles
I found on my own as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nEwX7BUYdY&feature=youtu.be
In this modern day
and age most people at least know something about computers. We live in an age
where technology is as common as the food you eat and the clothes you were. A
vast majority of people have touched some form of technology, Computers, Cellphones,
tablets. Even Airline tickets and checkouts at grocery shops are gaining
further and further access to computer technology.
But how much do
people know about cyber security? Surprisingly even in today's day and age
Cyber Security and Securing yourself over the internet is a large dark veil to
which very few people have the ability to see and understand. People hear about
Identity Theft and Cybercrime on nearly a daily basis. It is vast problem that
everyone knows exists, but nobody truly understands. After all, it can't happen
to me right?
After watching
this video it speaks to me as to just how easy it is for hackers and thieves to
con you into giving them everything they need to get in. To leech off of you.
Every bit of information you give someone online is up for them to twist and
use to their advantage. This is eye opening and scary.
I think in the future I will be more conscientious of what
information I give the people online. A big take-away I get from this is not to
trust anyone online. Not to the extent of being rude or unkind, but to the
point of nobody needs your email, nobody needs your login credentials. Anything
that people say to you is suspect. If it seems too good to be true it probably
is. Trust your instincts.
This article was probably gave me the most food for thought. I
think deep down a part of me, just like a part of everyone else, knows that we
are being tracked on the internet. I don’t think anyone really truly understood
the extent to which this tracking was taking place. That every search, every
email, every click of a button is being tracked not only in general but to you
specifically.
From experience I always knew something like this was happening.
For example, my friend from work was going to have a baby boy. A few months
before her baby shower I went on to Amazon (yes, the great and all powerful convenient
Amazon.) to search for a baby show gift. For a few months after that I found
myself barraged with advertisements for baby stuff on not only Amazon but on
many other sites as well. It was amazing to me that 1 single search on Amazon
could cause me to have Baby Ads absolutely everywhere.
I’m not sure how I feel about this. In some way I really don’t
think I mind. If they aren’t using my browsing habits for nefarious reasons
then I don’t really care to be fair. But I am concerned about their need to
hide the fact that they are tracking us. If they are hiding this from us, what
else are they hiding from us? Are they really ONLY using our information that
they collected to enhance our experience as well as their business? Or is there
something darker, something more nefarious going on behind the scenes? Are they
reading our emails? Tracking our business? Are we reaching an age of Big
Brother watching our every move?
The truth is, without them telling us why they are tracking us, we
can only venture and guess at the true reasons. We can’t possibly know with
100% accuracy what exactly they are using our searching habits for.
This article is a highly interesting read about the truth
around the laws that pertain to cyber stalking and online harassment. There are
laws out there to help prevent the harassment and stalking of victims on a
cyber stalking level, but they are right now better in theory then actual
practice. It is really hard for the victims to actually act on these laws.
Certain victims, such as the case of Jennifer Lawerence, have the funds and the means to really take
the law and make it their own. But for some victims this really isn’t an
option. Taking the offender to court takes a lot of time and a lot of effort.
As well as a lot of money and resources that some women just do not have.
In an age where the average person basically needs to use the internet to survive in modern society, the laws around the wild, wild internet really need to be revisited and revised. A way for not only women, but for all people to start feeling safe online. No one should have to feel violated just for using the technology that the world has deemed necessary.
The internet, is a place that is
both a blessing and a curse. It can be used for so much good, or it can be used
for dark and nefarious purposes. At the end of the day, how it is used is up to
you. Be smart, use caution, and think with your intuition first and you can truly
use the marvelous gift that we have at our fingertips with relative safety.
Every good choice is one less bad. Think Smart, Be Safe.
