Is Cache Related to My Online Privacy?

Link to Us: http://snipr.com/cachenprivacy

Nowadays, it is very important for every Internet users to protect their online private information but for the new users, how many of them are really aware of the online privacy issues? If you as a Internet user, do you realize one setting in your web browser which is cache setting? So, how does cache relate to online privacy?

Cache is pronounced as "cash" but it is not the money we use everyday. Cache has many different types since our blog is discussing about online privacy therefore, let's start with web cache or known as browser cache. Internet users can always change their cache setting within their web browser. Basically cache is technology or tool that copies responses temporarily from the site that you are visiting such as images, URL, and files. It is like a middleman and it observes the requests and all the responses from clients (you) and servers (the web site or page server). Moreover, it helps to store responses from the server at your computer thus, during the next time when you visit the same site, it respond faster because cache could refresh the responses or data it kept.

Due to the function of cache which is store data or responses from the web site server, is it safe to enable cache within your browser when you use the Internet? Many arguments said that web caching could bring dangers to security, copyright and also privacy because it copies data even just temporary. an URL which starts from https:// is cannot be cached. The responses from https:// site cannot be copied because the process of transmitting data is being blocked and guarded therefore, cache would not affect the privacy of data from https:// sites. Then, what about the non secured site? Based on a book "Web Caching" written by Duane Wessels, he says

"One way in which users' privacy can be compromised is by cache access log."1

Hmm... it sounds like it can protect your online privacy. On the other hand, topics like threats, advantages, and disadvantages of a browser cache would be discussed on next and also included possible solution.

1_________________________________________________________________________

One way in which users' privacy can be compromised is by cache access log.

Duane Wessels, (2001) Web Caching, O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., Morris Street, United States of America

References:

Primary Search

1. Duane Wessels, (2001). Web Caching, O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., Morris Street, United States of America

Secondary Search

2. Caching Tutorial for Web Authors and Webmasters, Mnot.net [Online]

Retrieved on 31st January 2010

URL: http://www.mnot.net/cache_docs/#DEFINITION

Opps! I catch a 'phishing' - Give Safety to Online Privacy

Link to Us: http://snipr.com/safety4on9

Phishing can threaten your online privacy and phishing cases increase year by year. It is a very serious cyber crime in nowadays. We need to know the latest phishing cases to stay alert and increase Internet privacy knowledge to prevent yourself to become a phishing victim. Many ways to protect your information and avoid phishing scams are shared in previous post.

So, now you are alert to phishing scams. What else we could do to against phishing? The answer would be one easy step: report phishing! Then, why we should report? Nowadays, the cyber world is very scary and dangerous. You might do enough of prevention but to really secure your online privacy and your private data more, you need to report phishing to certain organizations and you even could help to stop phishing and avoid others to become victims of phishing!

If you received an anonymous email please do not nervous. You could keep your identity and personal information safe if you did not reply and click on the links which provided by the emails. After that, report spam or phishing. If you are a gmail user, you could watch the below video.

To Detect Phishing, GoogleAccountsHelp, Youtube [online]
Video Retrieved on 24th January 2010
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SyzRdeyDYk

Click on the 'report phishing' at the action bar which is located at the top of the email there. For other email service providers, you could report spam. The companies would help to investigate and block the particular phishing site or page. Furthermore, you could report phishing site to certain organizations such as http://www.antiphishing.org/

Your private information can be stolen through phishing scams! Please do prevention and report phishing! You could secure your personal information and help to protect other people's private information by wiping and stop phishing scams!


A real case happened on me! Recently, I received a lot phishing emails from maybank.com. I am user of the Maybank2u.com.my and I understand Maybank would not request my log in details by sending me emails. Furthermore, the sender maybank.com is not authorized therefore, I could spot and identity those emails are phishing scam and I just ignore them. In this case, users could always report the phishing link to the bank, you could find a report phishing form at the authentic website.


Always report phishing if you found it to secure your online privacy more and also build up a safer cyber world for everyone.

Weekly Poll Analysis- What Is Cookie?

Link to Us: http://snipr.com/2ndpoll

The second weekly poll is ended and thanks for everyone who participated.

The weekly poll is related to cookie. So, "What Is Cookie?" The given choices were "The Biscuit", "Browser Cookie/ http Cookie", "A Video Game", and lastly "Handphone". Totally, we received 18 votes and below is the pie chart for the poll result.

The result shows 9 out of 18 people which is 50% who chose "The Biscuit". After that, total 8 people chose "Browser Cookie/ http Cookie" which is 44% and only one vote for "Handphone" which is 6%. There was no people vote for "A Video Game".

Many people might think this poll question is quite "lame" but the aim to create this poll is to test whether Internet users understand what is cookie in terms of computing and IT, and how it affects online privacy. If our blog's visitor is paying attention to our blog's contents, he or she could guess the most appropriate answer which is "Browser Cookie/ http cookie". On the other hand, half of the voters chose "The Biscuit", probably they did not concern much on the web technology, or maybe they did not relate our blog to this poll therefore, they could not get the real answer. Nowadays, more people are surfing the net, use the Internet but not all know what is a cookie which you can always see it in your web browsers.

Do you believe that web browser cookies can affect and threaten your online privacy as it keeps your data and information? Thus, we would discuss this on next.

Avoid Phishing to Violate Your Privacy

Link to Us: http://snipr.com/avoidphishing

In previous, phishing threatens your privacy by stealing your bank account details, passwords, credit card numbers and others without your knowledge. To protect your online information you could always identify the emails you received whether are phishing scams or not then, you would not easily to be cheated.

Once you have identify that particular email is not authentic and it is a phishing email, you never click on links and download the attachments. It is all because those links could be controlled by the fraudsters and hackers at the other servers and the server could obtain your personal information and hack your account once you log in the fake system with your real id and password. On the other hand, attachments are usually containing virus, spyware that could steal your online activities too. Hackers send you the attachments, once you download it, those viruses and spyware would start to gather your information without your consent.

So now you are aware of the phishing emails, what kind of computer setting that could strengthen your protection of your online privacy?

The answer is PROXY. Set up proxy or use firewall in your computer. They could monitor your online activities and scan transmitted file before it delivers to your computer. Proxy also could guard your computer by stopping any threats which included spyware or malware. Proxy filters the content of the site and URL so, it could help to block suspicious content to be sent to your computer, deny access to those blacklisted sites and prevent unauthorized users to interrupt your online activities. Moreover, firewall could filter and detect any suspicious files or viruses too. They could detect and guard your computer when other servers are trying to intrude or hack your computer.



Reference:
Bradley Mitchell, Proxy Servers Tutorial - About Proxy Servers, About.com [Online]
Retrieved on 24th January 2010
URL: http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/proxyservers/a/proxyservers.htm

Phishing Threatens Your Online Privacy?

Link to Us: http://snipr.com/threatenprivacy

Nowadays, the cyber world can be dangerous and threatening. All of us need to be alert and against all the possible threats when we use Internet. Everyone also need to strengthen their Internet knowledge to protect themselves from become the victims of phishing.

How to city, video articles, tips things, How to avoid online security threats and online frauds [Online]
Image Retrieved on 22nd January 2010.
URL: http://www.goc.vn/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/online_fraud.jpg

So what is "phishing"?

"Phishing" pronounces as "fishing". Basically, phishing is a technique that hackers, fraudsters request and obtain other people's personal information such as credit card numbers, password under a false pretense of a particular web page such as online banking through Internet.

Many Internet users received anonymous emails that state they have problem to log in to the system and request them to go to the provided link and insert their log in id and password. The provided link could be fake and it controls by the hacker or fraudster at the other server. Once you enter your log in details, fraudster might obtain those information and hack into your account. If more serious, you might lose money!

Here is a video to help you understand more on how phishing works?

Phishing Scams in Plain English, leelefever, Youtube [online]
Video Retrieved on 22nd January 2010
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqRZGhiHGxg


Protect your online information by spotting a phishing email then you would not become a phishing victim. Please be reminded, bank will never ask you to confirm your account details by an emails so, you also need to beware of other phishing emails which look like send by other possible companies that you trust! We conclude three ways to find out a phishing email:

Step 1: Check your name.
Your name will not appear in the emails. Usually fraudsters write "Dear Valued Customer" because the same email sends to many people. Therefore, it is not trustable.

Step 2: Check for the spelling mistake.
Phishing emails use the real logo and the name of the company but it is not authentic if you found spelling mistake in the emails include the title. A fake site usually contains mistakes!

Step 3: Look at the URL links attach in the emails.
If the emails ask you to click on the provided, never click it and you check the link whether is look different from the original web site URL. This anonymous link hosts by the fraudsters, it just looks like similar to the original web site URL if you are not aware of it.

If you found out these three suspicious points in the emails that you have received please don't reply and click on anythings, it is phishing scams! You could be safe from phishing and protect your online information easily.

Reference:

John Bisner, How Online Security Threats Can Damage Your Computer, Knol [Online]
Retrieved on 22nd January 2010
URL: http://knol.google.com/k/how-online-security-threats-can-damage-your-computer#

Weekly Poll Analysis- Fraud Emails

Link to Us: http://snipr.com/1stpoll




From the above chart, 9 voters (54%) choose they ignore the scamming emails, 5 voters (31%) they read the emails but they do not reply and 2 voters (13%) will take action which is report abuse or spam.

This result shows that people pay attention and aware of fraud issues. More people are tend to be more alert and know how to protect themselves when they using online banking. They know that the online banking sites would not send any emails to request for their personal information. Therefore, they could reduce their risk towards fraud, scam and phishing.

Nowadays, cases of online banking phishing are gradually increased. Fraudsters are always keep their eyes on internet and search for victims. Fraudsters use very special tools and techniques to get online banking users' information and fraudsters easily hack their account such as they will steal crucial financial data, credit card information and via phishing. People need to be guarded to against of involving cyber criminals.

What is your opinion? Would you beware of the online banking site that you use?

No Privacy For Online Banking?

Link to Us: http://snipr.com/on9banking

In previous post "Protect Yourself When You Shop Online", it tells what kind of site is safe to use especially related to e-business and transaction and many online banking sites are secured and verified therefore, your private information would be protected. According to last Friday, 15th January 2010 newspaper, a woman loses RM1,900 from her online banking account.

The woman is known as Jenn, she said that during the early of December, she received an email from "the bank" stating that she had log in to the "the bank" online system with incorrect password. After that, she tried to log in with her correct password. On the same day, a total amount of RM1,900 was transferred to a third party via "the bank" online banking without her knowledge. She has reported to "the bank" headquarter and after their investigation, it showed there was no system failure. Moreover, "the bank" said that they did not send any emails, sms or phone calls to request online banking account holder's personal information like password.

Lim Chia Ying, Woman loses RM1,900 from online bank account, The Star Online
Retrieved on 17th January 2010

URL: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/1/15/central/5451096&sec=central

Does online banking still safe to use?

I am user for three online banking sites and I use "that bank" online banking service too. Yes, the site has the verify sign, it is a secure site, and the URL starts with https://. So far, I have not encounter any problems. As an user of online banking, I have to be alert on what happen to the online banking site. I read all the announcements made by the bank through their online banking system. I know the bank will not send email, SMS or phone call to ask for my details because nowadays, people scam online banking users via anonymous email and so on. Even the particular email is stating that, it sent by the bank itself but the bank has declared in the earlier time as they would not send any of it therefore, I believe that the email is sent by third party and I would never reply or follow any instructions in the email.

Last, the online banking system would not reveal your personal information to third party or business purposes and they would not request any of your personal information via SMS, phone calls, and emails too. In my opinion, online banking is still safe to use, they protect your private data but users need to be more alert to scamming tricks and I believe that bank will tighten their online banking security. That is why I use online banking service frequently. Then, what about you?

Protect Yourself When You Shop Online

Link to Us: http://snipr.com/protectu

Nowadays, more people prefer to do online shopping because it is convenient and fast. Do you ever doubt that the sites that you purchase something from is safe and secure? When you purchase something through online, you need to reveal your personal details such as credit card numbers, CVC code (Card Security Code, and others to make payment. Then, would you worry if you reveal all these personal details to the site is safe or not? Before you start purchase something from certain sites and confirm payment please do check some security statement or policy. Here are some guidelines to help you protect your private information when you shop online:

First,do check the site whether is secured. A secure site, it will start with https://. Normally, a pad lock icon will come along with https:// and you can see it in many browsers such as Mozilla Firefox. Why choose the site which is start with https://? Actually, https:// is the safe version of the site that could prevent hacking, scamming therefore, and users can purchase items from the site safer. https:// secures the web site that you are visiting by giving protection such as your personal information that you key in to the web site is encrypted therefore, none of the unauthorized Internet users could access to the same web site or web page that you visit and read your personal information.

Next, do shopping at the site which is verified by SSL (Secure Sockets Layer 3.0). A SSL verified site enables to secure e-commerce or communication through internet. Many online banking or e-banking websites are secured by SSL. Thus, you could handle all your transaction through the online banking easily. SSL is a technology that can prevent other internet users interrupt and change the messages, details, transactions and other private information when we do online shopping especially make payment. Currently, the SSL technology is replaced by TLS (Transport Layer Security 1.1) and it works similar like SSL.

Lastly, read the terms and condition before you make purchase. Many online shopping sites include policy or terms and condition; please understand all the rules before you really start any purchasing. This to help yourself to understand the security statement and also the promises the sites make for you such as they promise they will keep your personal data as private and confidential and they would not reveal to any other companies.

A little reminder: please check for the online shopping website’s background. Have a clear mind on the history of the site to ease you check whether the site has any bad records. Thus, you could stop purchasing something from there. Please do not simply reveal any of your personal information to the sites. It might be dangerous because you information might be stole by third party.

When you want to buy something from internet, remember to check all the security statement and the verify sign.

Online Privacy and You?

Link to Us: http://snipr.com/on9privacy

In this Internet generation, most of the young adults rather spend time in front of computer to have conversation with others if compare to actual face to face conversations. This is because the Internet can help users reach and connect with their closest friends whenever they want.

Brian Bowman Website, New push to educate on online privacy,by Brian Bowman [Online]
Retrieved 13 January 2010.
URL: http://brianbowman.ca/2009/02/11/new-push-to-educate-on-online-privacy/

Online privacy is a big issue to all the Internet users because the personal information that we give out to the websites and online applications may increase the risk of appearing to the public and our information or identities might be stolen.

Calico Cottage, Inc Website, Privacy and Terms of Use, by Calico Cottage, Inc [Online]
Retrieved 13 January 2010.

URL: http://www.calicocottage.com/privacy_terms.shtml

Some of the Internet users even believe that services we use will keep our personal information private and confidential but in the reality who knows? That’s why users are being advised to do certain privacy setting to protect their information. Nowadays, many people like to share their photos, data, and others through online especially those social networking sites. Moreover, many people also prefer to buy something online, it requires credit card numbers and other private data to confirm the payment. Therefore, it is safe to do so? Yes, but not for certain sites, not every site is safe to use. Users need to be more aware to this when they share or reveal anything private through online. There are certain cases that really happened to our society, some users’ identities being misused or their private data has been stole for other purposes.

For instance, a case happened in USA SEATTLE which is personal information of a twenty years old woman fall into wrong hands and she be killed. Online privacy is a complicated as it is full of critical and chaotic technology. So, do not simply share your information with others because consequence will be getting into trouble.