MakeUseOf » online privacy

MakeUseOf » online privacy http://www.makeuseof.com Cool Websites, Software and Internet Tips Sat, 25 May 2013 14:53:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 4+ Ways To Secretly Hide Messages In Pictures http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/4-ways-to-hide-secret-messages-in-pictures/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/4-ways-to-hide-secret-messages-in-pictures/#comments Fri, 24 May 2013 01:30:01 +0000 Yaara Lancet https://www.makeuseof.com/?p=152215

The science (or art) of hiding messages is called steganography , and in the digital age, can be used to hide secret messages in innocent-looking images. Looking at the picture, you have no idea there’s a secret message hiding inside, but with the correct tools or passwords, the secret message can be revealed. As with everything, the digital and Internet age made creating these secret messages easier than ever.

Continue reading the article

Read full post: 4+ Ways To Secretly Hide Messages In Pictures

]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/4-ways-to-hide-secret-messages-in-pictures/feed/ 8 Everything You Need to Make Firefox Private & Secure http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/everything-you-need-to-make-firefox-private-and-secure/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/everything-you-need-to-make-firefox-private-and-secure/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 21:31:49 +0000 Joel Lee http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=144761

Make Firefox Secure Intro

When using Firefox - or any web browser for that matter - one of the best practices you can develop is to always be mindful of your privacy and security. You never know when someone could be snooping on you or intercepting your data. Indeed, being vigilant about this could mean the difference between a blissful browsing experience and maliciously stolen accounts. Encryption is great but there are other considerations you need to make.

Continue reading the article

Read full post: Everything You Need to Make Firefox Private & Secure

]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/everything-you-need-to-make-firefox-private-and-secure/feed/ 9 5 People Who Might Google You & What They Might Find http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-people-who-might-google-you-what-they-might-find/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-people-who-might-google-you-what-they-might-find/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 01:30:11 +0000 Yaara Lancet http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=151097

It was only 15 years ago that the best you could do to find a person online was look for him on ICQ and hope you find his name. If you managed to do that, you were actually nowhere nearer to knowing anything about this person, except for the fact he owns an ICQ account. If you were very brave, you might have requested to add that person to your contacts, just to see what happens.

Continue reading the article

Read full post: 5 People Who Might Google You & What They Might Find

]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-people-who-might-google-you-what-they-might-find/feed/ 10 Does The Internet Need A ‘Delete’ Button? [You Told Us] http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/does-the-internet-need-a-delete-button-you-told-us/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/does-the-internet-need-a-delete-button-you-told-us/#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 02:30:45 +0000 Dave Parrack http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=152347

You-Told-Us1

However careful you may be about what you share on the Web, there is always a chance you're leaking information. Websites collect data about you, which is then used to present you with relevant adverts. Social networks store updates and comments you make, any of which could come back to haunt you later in life. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Which is why we decided to ask you for your views on this issue.

Continue reading the article

Read full post: Does The Internet Need A ‘Delete’ Button? [You Told Us]

]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/does-the-internet-need-a-delete-button-you-told-us/feed/ 2 The Digital Afterlife – Managing Your Final Affairs http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/the-digital-afterlife-managing-your-final-affairs/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/the-digital-afterlife-managing-your-final-affairs/#comments Wed, 08 May 2013 01:31:43 +0000 Joshua Lockhart http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=148907

tombstone

As you look towards the final stage of your life, you may realize that there is a certain amount of paperwork must be handled. We've even covered a great deal of this information in one of our past articles, Your Last Will & Testament - What Happens To Your Data When You Die? Let's take a look at the condensed version of all this. What are the exact items that you'll need in order to handle your most important documents?

Continue reading the article

Read full post: The Digital Afterlife – Managing Your Final Affairs

]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/the-digital-afterlife-managing-your-final-affairs/feed/ 2 Get The Most Out Of Using Twitter Privately http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/get-the-most-out-of-using-twitter-privately/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/get-the-most-out-of-using-twitter-privately/#comments Sat, 27 Apr 2013 03:31:28 +0000 Aaron Couch http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=146976

Feature Image

If you use Twitter, you've probably noticed that by default your profile is set to public. Have you ever wondered how to make your Twitter account private or even why you should? It's probably safe to say that the majority of users have their profiles set up to be public, but there are many reasons you might want to make your tweets protected instead. In this article we'll explore how to protect your account so that only those you approve can see what you tweet.

Continue reading the article

Read full post: Get The Most Out Of Using Twitter Privately

]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/get-the-most-out-of-using-twitter-privately/feed/ 7 7 Free Google Services That Cost You Battery Life & Privacy [Android] http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/7-free-google-services-that-cost-you-battery-life-privacy-android/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/7-free-google-services-that-cost-you-battery-life-privacy-android/#comments Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:31:21 +0000 Kannon Yamada http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=142471

2013-04-04 22.49.27

A nameless writer once remarked, “If you’re not paying for the product, you are the product.” While probably in reference to broadcast television, the saying also applies to Google’s recent introduction of several poorly implemented services in newer versions of Android. Over the past year, you may have noticed programs running on your device that you never signed up for or installed. These purported "free" services come with a hidden price.

Continue reading the article

Read full post: 7 Free Google Services That Cost You Battery Life & Privacy [Android]

]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/7-free-google-services-that-cost-you-battery-life-privacy-android/feed/ 22 A New Google Feature Lets You Decide What Happens To Your Data When You Die [Updates] http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/a-new-google-feature-lets-you-decide-what-happens-to-your-data-when-you-die-updates/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/a-new-google-feature-lets-you-decide-what-happens-to-your-data-when-you-die-updates/#comments Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:00:57 +0000 Joshua Lockhart http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=143212

googlelogo

Online social profiles typically do not offer enough customizability to help users prepare for death. Of course, you can trust Google to pick up the gauntlet: the Inactive Account Manager is a brand new Google account feature that can help you keep your data out of the wrong hands when you die. It allows you to tell Google what to do with your information after your account has been unused for a certain period of time.

Continue reading the article

Read full post: A New Google Feature Lets You Decide What Happens To Your Data When You Die [Updates]

]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/a-new-google-feature-lets-you-decide-what-happens-to-your-data-when-you-die-updates/feed/ 30 Free Military-Grade Privacy For Your Files: How Bitlocker Works [Windows] http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/free-military-grade-privacy-for-your-files-how-bitlocker-works-windows/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/free-military-grade-privacy-for-your-files-how-bitlocker-works-windows/#comments Fri, 12 Apr 2013 03:00:55 +0000 Guy McDowell http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=138943

bit_locker_icon

Ever heard that quote about trying to explain how a television works to an ant? I'm not calling you an ant, even though you are hard-working and enjoy the occasional sip of aphid milk. What I am saying is that I'm going to explain how Windows BitLocker works, without you having to have a degree in computer science and cryptography experience.

Continue reading the article

Read full post: Free Military-Grade Privacy For Your Files: How Bitlocker Works [Windows]

]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/free-military-grade-privacy-for-your-files-how-bitlocker-works-windows/feed/ 17 Firefox 20 Introduces Per-Windows Private Browsing, A New Download Manager, & More [Updates] http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/firefox-20-introduces-per-windows-private-browsing-a-new-download-manager-more-updates/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/firefox-20-introduces-per-windows-private-browsing-a-new-download-manager-more-updates/#comments Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:00:59 +0000 Dave LeClair http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=142118

Mozilla has released Firefox 20 for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android, and it's filled with new features that should bring great joy to users of the popular Web browser. These features include per-window private browsing, a new download manager in the toolbar, and the ability to force-close stuck plugins separately.

Continue reading the article

Read full post: Firefox 20 Introduces Per-Windows Private Browsing, A New Download Manager, & More [Updates]

]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/firefox-20-introduces-per-windows-private-browsing-a-new-download-manager-more-updates/feed/ 26 This Is What Facebook Does with Your Data & How To Opt Out [Weekly Facebook Tips] http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/this-is-what-facebook-does-with-your-data-how-to-opt-out-weekly-facebook-tips/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/this-is-what-facebook-does-with-your-data-how-to-opt-out-weekly-facebook-tips/#comments Tue, 02 Apr 2013 17:01:49 +0000 Tina Sieber http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=141328

Facebook is a publicly traded company. As such, its success isn't just measured in traffic or users, but first and foremost in revenue. In other words, Facebook is pressured to make more money. But where does this money come from? The social network is a free service and all its unique content is generated by its users. This does not leave the site with a whole lot of options to earn money.

Continue reading the article

Read full post: This Is What Facebook Does with Your Data & How To Opt Out [Weekly Facebook Tips]

]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/this-is-what-facebook-does-with-your-data-how-to-opt-out-weekly-facebook-tips/feed/ 4 Not Just For Paranoids: 4 Reasons To Encrypt Your Digital Life http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/not-just-for-paranoids-4-reasons-to-encrypt-your-digital-life/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/not-just-for-paranoids-4-reasons-to-encrypt-your-digital-life/#comments Fri, 29 Mar 2013 21:00:25 +0000 Chris Hoffman http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=140826

Encryption isn’t only for paranoid conspiracy theorists, nor is it just for tech geeks. Encryption is something every computer user can benefit from. Tech websites write about how you can encrypt your digital life, but we’ve all done a poor job of explaining why you should actually care. Now we'll get back to basics and explain the many threats encryption can help protect you from.

Continue reading the article

Read full post: Not Just For Paranoids: 4 Reasons To Encrypt Your Digital Life

]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/not-just-for-paranoids-4-reasons-to-encrypt-your-digital-life/feed/ 11 Losing Control Over Privacy Settings? Priveazy Puts The Wheel Back In Your Hands [Chrome & Web] http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/losing-control-over-privacy-settings-priveazy-puts-the-wheel-back-in-your-hands-chrome-web/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/losing-control-over-privacy-settings-priveazy-puts-the-wheel-back-in-your-hands-chrome-web/#comments Fri, 22 Mar 2013 01:30:36 +0000 Yaara Lancet http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=139946

Online privacy is important to everyone, whether you actively protect it or not. The problem with privacy is not that we don’t care about it, but that we don’t always know how to protect it, or don’t have the time and motivation to go scanning through the settings of every website we use. Whatever the reason, many users don’t take good enough care of their online privacy.

Continue reading the article

Read full post: Losing Control Over Privacy Settings? Priveazy Puts The Wheel Back In Your Hands [Chrome & Web]

]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/losing-control-over-privacy-settings-priveazy-puts-the-wheel-back-in-your-hands-chrome-web/feed/ 5 Collusion Watches The Watchers – Find Out Who’s Tracking You Online [Firefox] http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/collusion-watches-the-watchers-find-out-whos-tracking-you-online-firefox/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/collusion-watches-the-watchers-find-out-whos-tracking-you-online-firefox/#comments Wed, 20 Mar 2013 17:01:16 +0000 Justin Pot http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=139086

Track the sites that are tracking you. Collusion is a free extension for Firefox that records every time you're tracked online, so you can see who is tracking you and try to work out why. The Mozilla Foundation says the extension is intended to help teach users about online tracking. "Not all tracking is bad," says Collusion's site at Mozilla.org "but most tracking happens without users' consent and without their knowledge".

Continue reading the article

Read full post: Collusion Watches The Watchers – Find Out Who’s Tracking You Online [Firefox]

]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/collusion-watches-the-watchers-find-out-whos-tracking-you-online-firefox/feed/ 14 Stay Safe & Private With These 5 Encryption Add-Ons [Firefox] http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/stay-safe-and-private-with-these-5-encryption-add-ons-for-firefox/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/stay-safe-and-private-with-these-5-encryption-add-ons-for-firefox/#comments Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:31:27 +0000 Joel Lee http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=133652

Firefox Encryption Addons Intro

Ciphers have been used throughout history to maintain secrecy and security for sensitive pieces of data. Instead of leaving important information out in the open and available to anyone for reading, these ciphers kept knowledge and messages locked away behind puzzles. At one time, those ciphers may have been simple, but now we have extremely powerful forms of encryption. Think about all of the sensitive data you transmit on a day-to-day basis through your browser.

Continue reading the article

Read full post: Stay Safe & Private With These 5 Encryption Add-Ons [Firefox]

]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/stay-safe-and-private-with-these-5-encryption-add-ons-for-firefox/feed/ 15