Consumers are right to be worried about their privacy. Many people have applauded recent FTC efforts to increase protection of privacy by consumers as they surf the web. The new efforts seek to limit the data collected on consumers as they shop online.
However, an article earlier this year on an FCC blog highlights an even more insidious concern: wifi snooping. One example in the FCC article mentions how Google's "Street View" cars collected data from many unencrypted, unsecured wireless networks as it took images of streets for the map service it offers. People with unencrypted, unsecured home wireless networks are an easy target for snoopers to steal data from, while they are shopping or not, and whether they have selected preferences to not have websites collect their personal data, as the FTC is promoting, or not.
However, privacy concerns go even further. It used to be that only the "elite hackers" could do things such as wifi snooping, but Firesheep, a Firefox add on, gives this technology to the masses. E-Security Planet discusses this program and ways to protect yourself against it. Firesheep allows users to easily access any "secured" site that is accessed with a password, but which does not use HTTPS. HTTP is the old way to surf the web, modern users need to be aware of the difference. The S stands for secure, and HTTPS protects users against the cookie sniffing that Firesheep exploits to allow users to log in to other's accounts.
While users need to consider how online sites use data it collects on them, a much more pressing concern is the data that those passing through your network, or surfing on the same unsecured network as you, can collect. Anyone who uses the internet needs to strongly consider taking steps to protect themselves. He who lives in glass house should install shades.
This government guide provides several tips consumers can use to protect themselves. Take a moment to read it and to consider your online privacy and security before you login to anything you don't want your friends to log into as you, again.
