Common Myths About Internet Security And Privacy

Many people are under the impression that the Internet is a safe and secure place to do business, and that your personal information is for the most part, guarded while you are online.  However this is not always the case and consumers need to be aware of the dangers and resulting precautions they need to take to protect their security and privacy when they use the Internet.  There are several common myths that people have about Internet security and privacy that need to be cleared up.  They are concerning confidentiality, authenticity, non-repudiation, integrity, access control and availability.  Here is some advice to help you clear up some of these common concerns.

Confidentiality is an important thing for consumers to worry about when they are on the Internet.  One common myth is that all sites where our personal information is given are kept confidential.  However, if your site is not encrypted, this may not be true.  Sensitive information that is sent over the Internet should be kept private, with only the person who it was sent to able to read it.  No one else should be able to read your messages or view your personal information so make sure that the site you are visiting is encrypted to prevent others from viewing your confidential information.

Those who are participating in a transaction with you over the Internet must be able to prove that they are authentic, and it is a myth that everyone is who they say they are.  The way we can verify the identity of each participant we send information or do business with is by using passwords, digital certificates, digital signatures, or shared secrets.  This helps us make sure the person on the other end is who they say they are.

Another Internet myth is that non-repudiation cannot occur.  It is illegal for participants to complete a transaction over the Internet and later deny it happened.  The use of digital signatures can be used for this purpose and can help protect consumers against this occurrence.

Data integrity is a big myth that many consumers aren’t aware of.  This implies that the information sent over the Internet or accessible on the internet has not been altered.  However, there are many hackers that can accomplish this and change the content of the message sent.  There are several safety measures that can be taken to ensure this does not happen.  Digital signatures, anti-virus software, and encryption are all good ways to prove data integrity.

One myth is that all sites have access control, which means that only authorized people can access the information, computer, and network.  Hackers can accomplish this, although firewalls, access rights, and passwords are all tools used to control outsider access.

When information or a service is desired, it should be able to be accessed reliably and easily.  Information sent over the Internet must have dependable channels and equipment that stores data.  One myth of consumers is that anything can be easily found and accessed, however computer equipment must be physically protected from harm as well as from power outages, system failures, and overloads so that it can be accessed reliably.  There are several ways to ensure availability, which include monitoring, data backups, anti-virus software, and adequate computer resources.  These are crucial to ensure that a system is working properly and that your information will be available when and where you need it.

These common myths that people have about Internet security and privacy all have ways that you can protect your self and avoid the damage done by hackers and Internet criminals.  Consumers should be aware of issues concerning confidentiality, authenticity, non-repudiation, integrity, access control and availability, and know what steps should be taken to protect themselves.