Monthly Archives: May 2019

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Internet Privacy in the Age of Facebook

Instant connectivity has transformed our lives for the better, but this comes at a perennial cost: personal privacy. Internet privacy, also known as online privacy, is the privacy and security of personal data that is published on the internet. Internet privacy is a fundamental human right today. But it is also a growing concern as traditional notions of privacy are being challenged by advancements in digital technology. Companies track online behavior for targeted advertising, governments monitor online behavior to control the citizens and cybercriminals steal data for their nefarious activities.

The common issues surrounding online privacy are tracking, surveillance and theft. Tracking refers to the tracking of online movement by websites and advertisers through cookie profiling and other techniques. Governments are conducting surveillance on the internet usage of their citizens, with the help of internet service providers, for the ostensible purpose of maintaining law and order. And almost a staggering 20 million Americans were affected by identity theft in 2017 as cybercriminals used malware and other phishing techniques to break into online accounts and steal personal information.

Internet behavior has a huge impact on personal privacy. Using the same credentials for multiple accounts can leave a person totally vulnerable to cybercrime, as access into one account can lead the cybercriminals into other accounts. Remaining logged into websites may sound convenient, but can leave the online accounts susceptible to hacking. Opening suspicious attachments and downloading malicious files is wrought with danger as these can contain malware and viruses.

Thankfully, there are ways to ensure internet privacy and security. The browser is the main program that is used for going online and securing it would be the first step to pre-empt an invasion of privacy. Using a VPN service would go a long way in protecting internet privacy as a VPN changes the IP address and protects both incoming and outgoing traffic with military-grade encryption. Constant software updating is crucial to internet security as software vulnerabilities can be easily exploited by the bad guys. An anti-virus program is a handy tool in the fight against online attacks as it keeps the digital devices free from malware. One should look out for a padlock in the web browser address window as it is an indicator of safety. A two-factor authentication can also go a long way in preventing hacking.

Some words of caution: Many social media sites and search engines may be free to use, but do carry an immense cost in terms of internet privacy. Private browsing prevents the browser from recording private information, but does not protect privacy as an individual’s online activities can still be monitored. The ISP saves and archives every online activity for posterity.

It is a fallacy to suggest that the Facebook generation is indifferent about privacy. If there is one issue that unites everyone who goes online, it is privacy. We need to do our best to protect online privacy and ensure that personal information does not fall into the wrong hands.

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Overuse of computer screens may be damaging students eyes

You rely on your eyes for so much–but could your work habits be killing your vision? If you experience eyestrain, vision problems, dry eyes, headaches, fatigue, or other problems after long hours in front of a computer screen, you’re not alone. You’re also probably causing some of your own misery.

Thankfully, there’s actually a lot you can do to help give your eyes a break. It’s worth it to try a few (or all) of these ideas to see if any of these tips make an impact:

1. Take a Break

It’s simple, but easily overlooked. Many of us overwork our eyes and that’s a significant contributing factor to our vision problems.

Try to aim for the 20/20/20 rule. Take a break every twenty minutes, look at an object twenty feet away, and hold your gaze for twenty seconds.

2. Blink More Often

Believe it or not, part of the reason why your eyes may hurt is because you’re probably not blinking enough.

Blinking your eyelids lubricates your eyes with tears, restoring the moisture your eyes lose from evaporation. Keeping your eyes hydrated helps prevent excessive dryness.

To keep your eyes feeling great, try to consciously blink more often. In fact, try blinking every time you think about it.

3. Use Your Prescription

If you have prescription eyewear, you may need to wear it even when you’re on the computer. Or, wear it when you’re away from your computer and use computer glasses when you’re in front of a screen.

Your eyestrain could be caused by the fact that your eyes are having to work harder to compensate for any vision challenges you experience, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or other issues.

4. Use Computer Lenses

Computer lenses are designed to be worn while using digital devices such as computers, smartphones, tablets, and televisions. Since our eyes are not designed for staring at screens, they sometimes need help.

Available in a wide range of frame designs, you can get computer lenses custom-made to your individual eyewear needs, fashion tastes, and vision prescription.

5. Adjust Your Screen Settings

Depending on the device you’re using, you may also be able to make adjustments to the screen so it causes less eyestrain. For instance, you could reduce the amount of blue light emitted by your computer screen so it doesn’t interfere as much with your sleep.

Too much blue light may reduce melatonin production in the body, causing sleep to become more difficult. Thankfully, it’s usually easy to change the settings on your computer, phone, or other device. You may even set up your device to reduce blue light before bedtime or for late night work.

Protect Your Vision

With these tips, you can reduce the strain your eyes undergo during your day-to-day use of electronics. Computer use doesn’t have to damage your eyes–by taking these steps, you can improve your comfort and productivity even while relying on computers to get your work done.