PROTECTING YOUR PRIVACY ONLINE
Advances in technology and the Internet have made it possible for detailed information about people to be compiled and shared more easily than ever. That's good in many ways. For example, we benefit from better information customized to our interests, and added convenience to meet the needs of our busy lives. At the same time, each of us must take precautions to protect against the misuse of that information.
As a visitor to any website, you should know what information is captured about you and how that information is used. This kind of information can be found in a private policy statement on the website. Understand what to expect from a website's privacy policy statement and why you should read it.
How To Find a Website's Privacy Policy
A web site's privacy policy should be easy to find and easy to read. Many sites have a link to their privacy policy at the bottom of their home page or on their customer support page. Look for the underlined words "Privacy" or "Information Practices" and click on it.
Basic Tenets of a Good Privacy Policy and What to Look For
Depending on the particular reason for your visit to a website, you may be happy to release personal information once you understand how it will be used. Reading the privacy policy can help you to decide how much personal information you are comfortable sharing.
The basic tenets of a good privacy policy will include the following disclosures:
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As a visitor to any website, you should know what information is captured about you and how that information is used. This kind of information can be found in a private policy statement on the website. Understand what to expect from a website's privacy policy statement and why you should read it.
How To Find a Website's Privacy Policy
A web site's privacy policy should be easy to find and easy to read. Many sites have a link to their privacy policy at the bottom of their home page or on their customer support page. Look for the underlined words "Privacy" or "Information Practices" and click on it.
Basic Tenets of a Good Privacy Policy and What to Look For
Depending on the particular reason for your visit to a website, you may be happy to release personal information once you understand how it will be used. Reading the privacy policy can help you to decide how much personal information you are comfortable sharing.
The basic tenets of a good privacy policy will include the following disclosures:
Notice
Choice
Access
Security
Customer service and recourse
Tips for Safeguarding Personal Information
Choice
Access
Security
Customer service and recourse
Tips for Safeguarding Personal Information
Notice
A privacy policy should clearly state, in terms you understand, what information is being collected and how that information is used.
A privacy policy should clearly state, in terms you understand, what information is being collected and how that information is used.
Choice
Individuals should be given the opportunity to exercise choice regarding how their personal information collected online may be used, particularly if the site plans to use their personal information for purposes other than those for which it was collected (e.g., selling email lists, etc.) Mechanisms to explicitly participate, or to cancel participation, should be provided to enable individuals to choose how personal information about them may be used.
Individuals should be given the opportunity to exercise choice regarding how their personal information collected online may be used, particularly if the site plans to use their personal information for purposes other than those for which it was collected (e.g., selling email lists, etc.) Mechanisms to explicitly participate, or to cancel participation, should be provided to enable individuals to choose how personal information about them may be used.
Access
Individuals should be provided with a way to view and update their personal information to ensure that the information is correct and up to date.
Individuals should be provided with a way to view and update their personal information to ensure that the information is correct and up to date.
Security
The site should take reasonable steps to ensure that data collected is protected from unauthorized use or alteration.
The site should take reasonable steps to ensure that data collected is protected from unauthorized use or alteration.
Customer service and recourse
The site should provide a method for answering questions and for resolving customer complaints and disputes in a timely and responsive manner.
The site should provide a method for answering questions and for resolving customer complaints and disputes in a timely and responsive manner.
Tips for Safeguarding Personal Information
- Read the posted privacy policies of the websites you visit. Find out what personal information they gather, how it is collected, and with whom it will be shared.
- If you can't find a website's privacy policy, contact the site and ask for a copy of their privacy policy statement or request for it to be posted on their website.
- Before responding to online sweepstakes, surveys, or games that require personal information for eligibility, read both the privacy policy and any additional game rules that may be posted to find out how they will use your personal information.
- Check to make sure that a website that collects personal information about you offers you the choice to participate and to cancel your participation.
Read more: Online Shopping »