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Question

Fear the unknown about the internet and hesitating to use it

Mar 19, 2012 7:11AM PDT

Hi. I posted this on the broadband internet forum already but wasn't getting much attention with it over there as of yet so I thought I'd just actually post it on here because I do feel like a newb to the technicalities of the internet and computers and what makes them work and I think that's basically what my problem is here. My concern is mainly with the internet though.

My problem is I'm afraid/hesitant to use my own internet on my own devices because I'm afraid of privacy issues with it I guess. So my question is, should I be afraid to use my internet privacy wise or not cause I can't use it anymore without feeling somehow I'm being tracked or watched secretly. If so, then can someone help me know what exactly should I be afraid of?

I would like to get to the bottom of my fears about it all because its holding me back from the internet and making me paranoid I guess. I guess I just lack a knowledge of the technicalities that make a computer and the internet tick so I feel really just precautious. I feel like I need help understanding this stuff or I'll always kind of fear the unknown and be afraid. I think just having an understanding of this stuff or if someone could explain this stuff to me I wouldn't have so much fear/precaution maybe if I didn't have to.

Right now I have the benefits an unlimited data plan on my smartphone and access to the internet by a fast cable broadband but I waste them feeling afraid to use it cause I am afraid its more bad than good maybe. I think about what the ISP or whatever sees and what data is loose in their hands or elsewhere or what the phone service providers really see. I think about ip addresses and wonder about how that works and just if there's some sort of catch with the internet. I read policies and all but they just seem confusing to me because they just state the stuff they collect but I don't understand it to well. I'm hesitant and afraid to send emails, search stuff even for like videos on youtube, or do much with anything mainstream. I also kind of worry about storing media on my computer if it connects to the internet worrying about if my media is known if I connect or can be and that worries me.

Wish I could explain what I mean better if that doesn't make sense but basically I just have fears about the internet and I'm thus holding myself back from using it while I have it. Can anyone help me simply understand or know what I should know about how the internet works and what I should be aware of or worried about?


P. S. I know before I posted a few times about privacy concerns with different things and people thought I was asking for professional counseling from someone on the forums for it when I wasn't but anyways I agreed that I would stop posting my concerns on the forums to someone but I just can't shake it off. I just feel ignorant and just wanted some knowledge on the topic if anyone could help me understand it so I wouldn't feel precautious to the unknown and know if I should have fears or not. So sorry if I'm crossing the line again but I just want to get info on the topic so I can determine whether I should worry or not. Thanks for the understanding.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Do you get junk mail ...
Mar 20, 2012 2:57AM PDT

in your mailbox? If so you are like the rest of us and are already "tracked" and because you probably drive or have gone to school or have a job you have already given up a bit of your "privacy".

Pay attention to the usual actions you can take such as not posting your email address or home or business address anywhere and not clicking every offer to " click here" that comes along (pay attention to what you are doing) and make sure your Anti-Virus and anti-malware apps are updated and used and avoid porn sites and you should be OK.

There are no guarantees in life other than the guarantee that if you live you will die eventually. If death and injury statistics for cars forces you to ride a bike and then the same type of statistics forces you to walk you will soon discover that the same death and injury statistics will cause you to stay in your home until you find that most accidents happen in the home then you give up. SKIP all that and just enjoy your Internet and if the worst happens fix the problem, get over it and drive on.

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Answer
Internet paranoia
Mar 20, 2012 3:00AM PDT

You can set your security parameters from control panel under internet options. Always use some type of antivirus/spyware program, there are tons of them out there, some are free and pretty functional but if you are a newbie you might be better off purchasing an a/v package (on disk) from a box store and you may want to research what the technoids recommend these days, there are MANY opinions. Win Vista and Win 7 have a security package bundled but I would still recommend using something aftermarket rather than depending on Windows security. If you are just starting out it would be a good idea to get some advice and many box stores have technicians who are reasonably knowledgeable regarding these types of issues, that is where I would start. Good luck!

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Answer
I am not at all sure
Mar 20, 2012 7:37AM PDT

that there is anything any of us here can say to you that will help.

Yes, you have posted your concerns here many times, and yes, I have already suggested, with great respect I trust, that we cannot help you with what seems to be psychological problems and you should, in my view, seek professional help.

I simply do not know what form of words anyone here can use to help you with your problems.

Mark

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I guess you're right then but...
Mar 22, 2012 12:19PM PDT

if professional help is what I need then could you at least show me where to get that professional help? What do you suggest I guess that I do? Just wondering cause I think I really am struggling with this issue.

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First step
Mar 22, 2012 10:10PM PDT

your own doctor. If this is a medical issue, (I don't know), then seeking advice and guidance from your own doctor is the natural first step.

Mark

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Answer
"Come in, the water is nice"
Mar 23, 2012 1:14PM PDT

The internet is a great place and you should take full advantage of it. You can search and find out an incredible amount of stuff for your job, investments, career, education, locate job and investment opportunities or simply find long-lost friends and relatives.
Not sure how to say this- just come in. There is nothing to fear but fear itself.
Some simple safety rules:
1]Get/install a reliable antivirus/firewall [defensive] program.
I have had good experience with Norton and MacAfee.
2]Keep the antivirus program updated. Usually the programs update automatically when you open your computer or you are prompted by the program when you open the program by clicking on the program icon.
3]Regularly scan your computer for viruses and other unwanted files by running the "scan" feature on the antivirus program.
I update my antivirus program and I do a full system scan of my computer every week.

The antivirus/firewall is great because it:
1] Advises you if the website you are about to click-on/open is safe and trusted.
2] It warns you if the website is bad/unknown/untrusted.==Don't open!!
3] It blocks bad files/viruses from being dumped in your computer.
4] It will ask you to confirm if you trust a file/program before it is installed on your computer--you can accept or deny access ==You have the power.!!!
5] It actually prevents tracking of your computer==It is called "Intrusion Detection".

I suspect that websites like Microsoft/Norton/MacAfee also have tutorials to keep you safe on the web.
Regular scanning of your computer will help detect any files/viruses that may breach your antivirus defenses the antivirus programs can help to remove such files/viruses.

Of course, limit your exposure [just like avoiding bad neighborhoods]:
1] Avoid vice/bad sites [pornographic/quick money/easy money sites/??gambling sites]
2] Avoid websites/ file downloads from sites that you are not familair with.

Nothing is 100% guaranteed to be safe; but don't stay out.
Sorry I can't help with the smart phone; I am only familiar with laptops/desk-top.

By the way, if you are posting on this website, you already know how to use the internet- just expand your comfort zone.
Sorry for rambling/long-winded post.

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Answer
No need to worry
Mar 23, 2012 8:00PM PDT

I have been using the internet since 1984 and have had no serious tracking issues. As long as you have good antivirus protection and a firewall (I use eset) there is nothing to overly concern yourself with. We are tracked from the day we leave the womb. It used to be on paper, now it is in hyper-space. The majority of us lead pedestrian lives of no real interest to anyone except our friends, family and advertisers. I have a love-hate relationship with advertisers. Pop-ups can be easily blocked as well as junk and spam mail but side-bar advertisements show up on the sites I visit. Many times, though, they lead me to something that really is interesting and new.
It is new world and it is for us to manipulate it. Do not think that some person is looking over your shoulder, it is just software doing its job. It is totally impersonal. There is a vast ocean of information out there for you. If you are interested in model planes, old victrolas, muscle cars, geology, football.........anything and everything ever written or imagined is there for you. Go for it.

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Respecting the "dark side" in the Internet ??
Mar 24, 2012 2:00AM PDT

The fear described is fairly common among older users - not so much younger users - meaning 15 to 20 years old mostly .. as compared to those over 60 or so .. BUT it is real .. and it is honest ! However .. the fear described is that "of the moment," and the fear of the "future change" that may occur is not even mentioned ..

Think of the difference between a heart attack ... and an illness like that caused by smoking .. many years ..
and one is sudden while the other "creeps along" for years before seeming to be dangerous ..

Think of those fears we all should be having about the "creeping dangers," that are occurring .. One extreme is
explained in the book "The Shallows," while others appear in the press everyday .. Look at Eastman Kodak, at some of the best journalists working for the press in the U.S. and the U.K. ... think on those changes ..

In addition to praising and teaching the "good side" of the Internet and its capabilities, we need to be alerting others to the "bad side." It has long been time now since the early stages of the "invisible islands" before the Internet was made available to the public (thanks to Al Gore, Senator from Tennessee at that time) to think of doing an "impact analysis" - and not just to study "immediate" repercussions, but the ones that come so slowly we don't notice them sometimes til it's too late. Wonder who is doing those ?? Only a few ..

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Yeah about the dark side...
Mar 24, 2012 1:34PM PDT

I didn't get exactly what you was saying above but I have heard a lot about a possible dark side to the internet and that's what's started this paranoia or cautiousness to do stuff and feel ok on the internet. I guess according to what you said I'm one of the younger few users or whatever.

I was just reading the other day about a lot of how privacy is invaded on the internet by isp's and law authorities a lot on the subject just researching on wikipedia. I really don't feel with the times and sometimes why I fear so much the dark side and what I know but I guess I just have a phobia now that might be not a phobia I don't know. They were talking about ways to stay around it too like using encryption to email and stuff though so I guess maybe.

Right now I want to email someone but now that I'm paranoid I want to encrypt it I guess or whatever but the only way to email them is by doing it through their website. I kind of hesitate though wondering about my isp and my ip and what computer or network I use, etc. just out of precaution I guess. I was thinking about just using ssl/tsl or whatever maybe but I don't know if that will do or even what that will do. I'm such a newb to the technicalities but so sensitive to what I don't know about it that I'm paranoid and just have to learn this stuff and keep locked up I guess. I guess will ssl/tsl do any good and can anyone explain what will that do? I don't know.