Have you had any Internet security problems in your personal life, How could security issues affect your professional life and the lives of your students?

About a year ago, my credit card information was stolen on the internet. I had just gotten into online shopping, and I was unaware how easy it can be for a person to get your information online. As soon as I checked my online bank balance and noticed that there were charges on my account from places I didn't recognize, I called my bank. They looked into it, and it looked like the criminal was using my credit card information online--this is easier to do because it doesn't require a physical card for swiping, but just a number instead. The bank immediately sent me the paperwork to verify that my card number had been stolen, and cancelled my card number. They sent me a new one in the mail, and the crisis was averted.

It was definitely a traumatic experience--one that I will force me to be more wary when putting my credit card number online. So many people do not realize how easy it is for them to become a victim of identity theft. With the increase in digital mediums, there are going to be obvious problems. We have to be aware of these and careful in questionable situations.

Internet security is something that will definitely affect my professional life, as well as the life of my students. With the ever-increasing emphasis on online and computerized learning, students will be spending more and more time online for classes. As a teacher, I need to teach students the pros and cons of internet use, and what 'red-flags' to look for to indicate sketchy situations!

Which one of the privacy activities surprised you the most? Why?

None of the privacy activities particularly suprised me. Perhaps this is because I have visited most of those websites prior to this; however, the extent to which privacy has been lost is suprising. When you think about how Google Earth has a satellite watching you the moment you walk out of your door is a scary thought.

There are times, of course that this level of exposure has its benefits. For example, when considering moving to a new city, one might find Google Maps helpful to get a real-time visual of the area. They may also view the average price of homes or the sex offender statistics to help decide when/where/if they should relocate.

On the other hand, there are websites that are releasing questionable information. I think it is important to remain cognizant of these sites, so that I can protect myself in questionable situtations. In fact, I would think being aware of what rights of privacy I do have would be the best advice. If you know your rights, it is certainly easier to know when to stand up for yourself.