With the evolution of technology, governments, businesses and consumers all have to face the problem of the Internet and security issues. Privacy protection has been a public policy concern for decades. However, these rapid technological changes, the rapid growth of e-commerce, and the development of more sophisticated methods of collecting, analyzing, and using personal information have made privacy a major socio-political issue in the world.
Buying online is easy and less time-consuming but is it really safe? Most businesses collect and retain sensitive personal information from their customers and employees such as names, addresses, social security numbers, credit card numbers and other account numbers. Protecting personal information not only makes good business sense, it can also help them avoid legal problems. Depending on the type of data they are collecting, and who they are collecting it from, a business may be subject to federal and state privacy laws. This is the reason many businesses try to use systems like the PayPal system which consumers, like myself, seem to trust a little more. It protects consumers from identity theft and credit card fraud when shopping online. PayPal is the safer, easier way to pay online without exposing your credit card information and is a security relief for consumers.
Consumers are becoming increasingly sensitized to the protection of their personal information. Nonetheless, some people appear to be willing to trade-off various degrees of personal privacy for discounts on merchandise, free computer hardware, software, or e-mail, and other benefits. Privacy concerns are reflected in opinion polls and surveys. For example, a recent survey by Privacy and American Business showed that 81% of Net users, and 79% of users who buy products and services on the Net, expressed concern about potential threats to their personal privacy while online.
Governments are also worried about the safety of the online market in terms of protecting their states' secret laws, which if disclosed could harm their security or interests in political, economic, defense and other realms. There are so many internet hackers and cybercrimes being committed, governments have to ensure security of all their essential documents which are mainly online today. For example, China is trying to tighten their data control system to help protect their state secrets. They also claim that they are doing this to strengthen the government’s control over private communications. However, is this fair to the Chinese population to have the online privacy being controlled and monitored by the government? It does not seem fair to me but in the effects that China is still a communist state, they may have the rights to 'invade' their online market and control private communication. The following article gives furtther insites of China tightening their data control to "protect" their country.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/28/world/asia/28china.html
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Karina, I currently work in the IT industry but ironically enough I do very little shopping online; primarily books. However, this is not because I am fearful of someone stealing my information or having my credit card information stolen, it is primarily because I still enjoy going into stores and touching something before I buy it. I have noticed in recent years that many people are scared of participating in the online marketplace however the main culprit here is misinformation. Many of the technologies used online are iron clad and extremely difficult, if not impossible, to bypass. Most people on the Internet who fall pray to ‘hackers’, are people who get emails asking for their credit card information, social security numbers, etc. The old adage still applies; ‘If it doesn’t feel right it isn’t right!” If you ever have a doubt regarding who sent you the email, do not reply directly to them, go to the company’s site and email customer service. They will inform you if the email was legitimate.
ReplyDeleteThe other way in which most security compromises occur is when users with sensitive data lose their laptop or storage device containing sensitive data. This issue has been addressed, with new encryption and security technologies, within the past few years as media coverage has shined an unwanted light on any company that loses a laptop with thousands of credit card numbers on it. Many companies have software installed on all their systems that prohibits sensitive information from being transmitted or stored. I personally feel completely safe purchasing anything online.
I'm not sure if I could agree with Mr. Munoz. The danger of someone hacking information like credit card numbers and social security etc etc is definately what scares most consumers. But, the threat or the risk goes beyound that. Packages and products might never be shippend but charged ( and im talking about very well known websites), empty boxes have been delivered, charges have been modified, hacking of profile where your credit card is saved is a definate possibility etc etc. Let alone many information that are left behind with each purchase...information that could harm you if the wrong hands get to it.
ReplyDeleteAt a personal level I buy and sell like crazy over the internet. Most of the time Im very successful and my information has not been stolen so far. Yet, many people I m close to like my girlfriend has had emty boxes delivered and extra charges on her credit card bill.