Kristen LockhartKristen Lockhart

COMPUTER PRIVACY & PERSONAL INFORMATIONCOMPUTER PRIVACY & PERSONAL INFORMATION

What types of information do companies What types of information do companies havehave and and share share about about YOUYOU??

Why this presentation is Why this presentation is important to YOU.important to YOU.

The more you know how your personal information is The more you know how your personal information is collected, maintained, and used, the better prepared collected, maintained, and used, the better prepared you will be in protecting your personal information.you will be in protecting your personal information.

OBJECTIVE:OBJECTIVE: This presentation will help you understand the extent This presentation will help you understand the extent

and risks associated with databases that contain and risks associated with databases that contain personal information about you. personal information about you.

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Who knows what about Who knows what about YOU?YOU?

The The IRSIRS keeps records of keeps records of your earnings, taxes, your earnings, taxes, deductions and deductions and employment. Your IRS employment. Your IRS data data mustmust be available to be available to certain government certain government agencies.agencies.

Education dataEducation data is what is what you’ve accomplished you’ve accomplished during your years in schoolduring your years in school—grades, roommate —grades, roommate preferences and preferences and disciplinary actions. disciplinary actions.

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Who knows what about Who knows what about YOU?YOU?

Driver and Crime dataDriver and Crime data includes includes very personal descriptive data, such very personal descriptive data, such as sex, age, height, weight, color of as sex, age, height, weight, color of eyes and hair, arrests, fines and eyes and hair, arrests, fines and traffic offenses. Your information is traffic offenses. Your information is available to law enforcement available to law enforcement personnel.personnel.

Lifestyle dataLifestyle data: Whenever you pay : Whenever you pay bills on-line, respond to opinion bills on-line, respond to opinion polls and shop; a polls and shop; a ProfileProfile can be can be created on you.created on you.

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ProfilingProfiling

ProfilingProfiling is a process where companies is a process where companies examine and evaluate on-line activities and examine and evaluate on-line activities and interests to create a comprehensive personal interests to create a comprehensive personal profile.profile.

Example:Example:

A prediction of how you dress can be A prediction of how you dress can be determined by knowing the type of determined by knowing the type of

clothing stores you shop at.clothing stores you shop at.

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How might your How might your information be abused?information be abused?

Many companies have been formed strictly to sell Many companies have been formed strictly to sell information about people—including e-mail information about people—including e-mail addresses.addresses.

In numerous situations, people aren’t suspicious In numerous situations, people aren’t suspicious that their personal information is being used or that their personal information is being used or sold.sold.

Personal information for profit is growing so Personal information for profit is growing so rapidly that the government is having a difficult rapidly that the government is having a difficult time keeping up with cases of abuse.time keeping up with cases of abuse.

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How can you protect How can you protect yourself?yourself?

BAD NEWSBAD NEWS::

At present, the federal laws At present, the federal laws give individuals little give individuals little protection.protection.

You are not allowed to You are not allowed to choose who sees your choose who sees your information.information.

In most cases you are not In most cases you are not allowed to view, remove, or allowed to view, remove, or change information on some change information on some databases.databases.

GOOD NEWSGOOD NEWS::

Laws are being put in place Laws are being put in place that will provide better that will provide better protection of personal protection of personal information.information.

Example:Example:In the future companies must In the future companies must

get your permission before get your permission before they can sell any of your they can sell any of your

personal information personal information (name, address, telephone (name, address, telephone number and social security number and social security

number). number).

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““SO…NOW YOU KNOW”SO…NOW YOU KNOW”

ALWAYS BE AWARE OF WHAT YOU ALWAYS BE AWARE OF WHAT YOU DO ON-LINE, BECAUSE THERE IS DO ON-LINE, BECAUSE THERE IS ALWAYS EYES ON YOUR EVERY ALWAYS EYES ON YOUR EVERY

MOVES!MOVES!

ReferencesReferences

Computers Information Technology in Computers Information Technology in PerspectivePerspective by Long and Long by Long and Long

The Anonymizer Protecting User Privacy The Anonymizer Protecting User Privacy on the Webon the Web by Justin Boyan by Justin Boyan