Internet Security

Privacy and security are relatively familiar concepts in the physical world. We recognize the importance of personal privacy and take steps to protect it. But what happens to that privacy when we go online?
In the digital world, the boundaries are less apparent. Users may not realize when their online activity is being observed, what others can discover about it, or who has access to that information. Digital security also extends beyond privacy. A system cannot provide meaningful privacy without adequate security, but protecting privacy alone does not make a system fully secure. Its overall security depends on several factors, beginning with its technical safeguards: whether it has vulnerabilities or has been compromised, and how effectively its devices and installed software protect it.
User behavior is another essential factor. Digital systems are not automatically secure; maintaining their security requires deliberate action. Everything we do online leaves traces that form a digital footprint. Attackers can analyze those traces to gather information about a system they intend to target. Users can, however, exercise some control over their digital footprint by being mindful of their online activity and the information they disclose.
Online privacy concerns how personal information is stored, copied, shared with third parties, and displayed on the Internet.