Book Summary:
Chris Peterson has created a highly pragmatic guide for all those who want to enjoy the benefits of the Internet but are concerned about maintaining their privacy. Peterson examines the trade-offs, showing how properly shared information can provide you with important services, from enhancing your health care to protecting you from criminal activity. The flip side, however, is that erroneous information can prevent you from finding employment, deny you credit, or even bring you into conflict with law enforcement. Individuals can use Peterson's information to determine how much personal information they are willing to divulge. Peterson also shows how to watch for online scams and how to deal with the possibility of erroneous information. Several times throughout the book she pauses for a "privacy profile exercise," which enables you to discover what information about yourself is already public on the Internet or what information is being exchanged between your computer and others to keep track of your online activities. A special section deals with children online, the risks they face, and what steps you can take to protect them from both commercial and personal predators. She also covers the steps currently being taken by government and the private sector to assure you greater control over private information. --Elizabeth Lewis Even if you are a casual user of the Internet, you may be unwittingly "sharing" important information for anyone to see. What you can find out about yourself online may startle you. Now, learn how to control your personal privacy at work and at home without giving up the versatility of the Internet.
I Love the Internet, but I Want My Privacy, Too! gives you the tools you need to protect yourself and your family in cyberspace. Shop online, e-mail a friend, transfer sensitive documents knowing that your most personal information will escape the prying eyes of Web thieves and Internet snoops. Let your kids surf the Net without running into online predators or pornography.
Inside you will find:
• Guides to "safe sites" and online security software
• Easy step-by-step instructions to secure your computer for your children
• Personal privacy profile exercises
• Resources on the nation's leading Internet privacy advocates
• And much more!
All this is offered in non-technical and reader-friendly terms, including simple exercises you can perform to see what's on the Internet about you!
"An excellent resource for the newbie and the professional. A comprehensive look at the most important issue facing the Net today."
—Brian O'Shaugnessy, director of public policy, Internet Alliance
"I Love the Internet is a useful guide for parents and their children."
—Katharina Kopp, Ph.D., senior policy analyst, Center for Media Education |