October 17, 2020, Posted By John M

Online Privacy Pros And Cons

online privacy pros and cons

What Are The Harms And Benefits Of Internet Privacy

Curious to discover what are some online privacy pros and cons?

That’s what we are planning to discuss today! So join the ride and let’s discover together how our privacy vanishes online, and what we can all do about it.

I think we can all agree that the Internet based world we are experiencing today has totally changed the way we live and interact. And most importantly, the way we access information. 

For all of the modern world, technology has removed traditional obstacles to data. In our day and age we don’t need to run to the library any time we want to find out something new. With just the simple touch of a button or a few mouse clicks, we can access and use any pieces of information we wish, from any part of the world. 

But other than the amazing benefits like access to knowledge, education or business opportunities, the Internet also raises concerns regarding the privacy of information. 

Every day, billions of people are using the Internet to conduct financial transactions, keep in touch with family or friends, or do online shopping. All these individuals share a lot of personal information, most of the time without even keeping track of what websites they access, and when.

But is giving away one’s private information on the Internet safe?

According to Statista:

– The global number of web attacks blocked per day increased by 56.1% between 2017 and 2018

– Yahoo holds the record for the largest data breach of all time with 3 billion compromised accounts

– There was an 80% increase in the number of people affected by health data breaches from 2017 to 2019

So when looking at the data and balancing the online’s privacy pros and cons, what are the most important things any person should consider when looking to protect identity online?

The Pros Of Internet Privacy

The twenty-first century has probably been one of the most transformative for humanity, due to one main reason, the Internet. With estimations showing there are around 3,037,608,300 internet users all over the world and almost 8 new users logging online for the first time every second, it’s quite obvious that the online world is here to stay. 

When comparing the pros and cons of online privacy, we have many good aspects we can discuss about.

Online Protection Of Data

Data privacy has always been important. 

Why do we emphasize this?

Well, in case you didn’t know it by now, whenever you are visiting a site, downloading an app or using a social media platform, chances are some data about you is getting collected.

The problem is that we all have private records we wish to keep private. It can be medical files, financial information, or pictures no one else should see. This means that there can be internet privacy issues. When we learn how to take the appropriate measure, the laws governing data privacy may support us in making sure that this information stays the way we want it. Safe!

Online Child Protection

The Internet can be a very dangerous place for children. That’s why, when discussing the pros and cons of online privacy child protection must be also taken into account.

Around the world, a child goes online for the first time every half second using computers or mobile devices like smartphones or tablets. During this time they spend surfing the web, kids can become victims to countless threats like cyberbullying, sex predators, sexting or inappropriate content. 

With proper education and exploring online safety methods, we can have control over almost everything that our children experience when online.

Freedom Of Press And Speech

If there is one thing the Internet is best at, that’s encouraging the freedom of press, and the freedom of speech. With countless online newspapers, forums, groups or social media platforms, we can all discuss different topics, without the feeling of being constricted. 

And although many of you might be worried about how privacy vanishes online, by taking the right measures we can get our information protected, while also enjoying all the incredible things that the Internet enables.

The Cons Of Online Privacy

I guess we can all agree that the Internet is amazing and when used in the right way, it has the ability to broaden horizons, and ignite creativity the world over.  However, a good amount of people do not know that no one can guarantee us both privacy, and security.

And since so far we discussed the pros of online privacy, it’s time to look at what the cons are, and how they can affect us all.

how privacy vanishes online when hackers steal or data

Cybercrimes

Internet security is not only a matter of concern for regular citizens, but also to companies and governments all over the world. That’s because in this Digital Age, catching crooks or spies is harder than ever before. And with technology changing constantly, regular antivirus apps are many times not efficient enough to protect us. 

Curious to discover some of the main types of cybercrime?

– Email and internet fraud

– Identity fraud

– Theft of financial or card payment data

– Theft and sale of corporate data

– Cyber Extortion (demanding money to prevent a threatened attack)

– Ransomware attacks

– Cryptojacking

– Cyber Espionage (where hackers access government or company data)

And why would online privacy enable cybercrimes?

Well, let’s look at encryption for example. What used to be the sole province of governments and spies, is now accessible to any cybercriminal who wishes to exchange information in a highly secure manner. And in case you thought that encrypted data can’t be hacked, you were wrong. Encrypted data can be hacked or decrypted with enough time and computing resources.

Internet Bullying 

Cyberbullying or cyber harassment enables users to abuse others by using electronic means, and most of the times, by taking advantage of online anonymity. Bullying can include anything from spreading rumors, making sarcastic, sexual or mean remarks, threatening and so on. 

The consequences of cyber harassment can be highly damaging and upsetting, and many times they can lead to serious, long lasting results.

Information Mishandling

Although, as you could see earlier when we discussed the pros of online privacy, the Internet often promotes the protection and anonymity of data. But let’s see now what the cons are.

Although many of us might think that our data is kept safe by banks, doctors or mail providers, information mishandling is happening more often than one could imagine.

The modern trend of e-banking or e-business have multiplied the ways in how privacy vanishes online. That’s because most of the time the information we share through these websites is not even encrypted, and can be accessed by anyone.

Wrapping Up Online Privacy Pros And Cons

As far as the pros and cons of online privacy go, the balance weights equally in both directions.

The only way you can make sure you don’t expose yourself to major risks is by understanding, developing and using good security practices. 

And if you need help, or you have any questions related to how privacy vanishes online, we are always here to offer our support, services, and to answer all your questions.

So don’t hesitate to contact us whenever needed!

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