A number of studies and surveys on privacy concerns among social network users are being conducted by different entities. These surveys are aimed at getting a cross-section of how users view, or feel about, their social networking activities. One of these research bodies is the Pew Internet & American Life Project. It reported that users of social networking sites are becoming more selective when accepting a friend. They are also taking more time to examine the contents that are being displayed on their pages.

Pew said in its report that two out of three of all internet users are hooked on social networking. In 2009, there was an increase in the number of individuals who have deleted “friends” from their lists. There were more women than men who did so, while more young people than older people tend to do this. These were some of the findings that the study gathered in a span of one year.

A representative of the Associated Press said that users tend to be more conscious about comments posted by other people. This is supported by an increase in the number of users who deleted comments on their profiles. Another proof comes from Pew, saying that a large number of users said that they “untagged” themselves from photos. This tendency shows that they do not want themselves to be exposed on other people’s pages.

Google’s new privacy policy  will go into effect as of March 1, 2012.  The new policy will be the same for all Google products and services and affects all the information Google has stored for your accounts.  It also includes any information that will be gathered from March 1^st forward.

To date, all of your searches and records of every site you visit stayed in your Google Web History.  This Web History was kept separate from all other areas of Google.  Everything will now be combined with the new privacy policy.  If you want to keep your personal life private, you want to be sure to clear your Web History.  If you don’t do this, your searches could tell everyone things like your hometown, age, health issues, sexual orientation and so much more.

The only way to stop Google from merging your Web History with your Google + or YouTube usage, you need to delete all searches in your Web History.  You also must stop any future activity from showing up on your Web History.

You can do this by following these simple steps:

Start by signing in to your Google account.

After that, go to https://www.google.com/history

Next, click on the “Remove all Web History” button.

Now, all you need to do is click on “OK”.

Take note that not only are you removing information from your Web History, but you are also pausing it.  The Web History will remain paused until you physically enable it again.

If your Web History is active, Google will keep all the information in it for an indefinite amount of time.  However, when you pause the Web History, most of your information will be cleared within 18 months.  Further, when the Web History is disabled, the search results that are customized for you will no longer appear.  The Electronic Frontier Foundation (or EFF) has a guide entitled Six Tips to Protect Your Search Privacy that offers suggestions on how to reduce the amount of information Google stores on you.

Most people have more than one Google account, so you must remember to follow the above steps for each one.  Two other things you need to remember are:   1.  Removing and disabling your Web History will not stop Google from storing your information for their internal use, and, 2.  If a law enforcement agency requests any information, Google will supply it to them.

Facebook is set to introduce its latest “improvement”, that they are calling “Timeline”. Even though Timeline has not made a full appearance on Facebook, there are already issues about privacy being brought up. These issues are valid, but if you take the time to read the Privacy Policy and learn how to set your controls, you will be able to enjoy this improvement without worry.

One of the main concerns about Timeline is the “Maps” feature. The concerns being voiced are over this feature’s use of all information you ever posted to your Facebook account. You cannot opt out of this feature, so be aware that all of your friends can see where you’ve been and what you’ve been doing. This includes all past activities that you have ever posted to your wall.

When you agree to Facebook’s Terms and Conditions, it is assumed that you have read, and understood the Privacy Policy. This policy states: “We receive data from the computer, mobile phone or other device you use to access Facebook. This may include your IP address, location, the type of browser you use, or the pages you visit.” So, in essence, you are acknowledging that you know Facebook will be gathering information about you and that this information could be shared with others.

Many people are constantly updating their statuses. Any time there is a career change, promotion, new house or apartment, a move out of state or to a new city, Facebook has this information. If you go to a party and a friend takes a picture of you with a GPS enabled cell phone, then posts it, you will be pinpointed to that location. This doesn’t only apply to new information or pictures; this is retroactive to include past posts and pictures. All of this information goes to your “map”.

Facebook will also post any song you listen to when you use Spotify. Earlier, there was no choice about these postings, however, now, Spotify users have an option for “private listening”. You must remember to apply this option each time you restart the application or if you don’t use the service very often.

Your friends are also brought into the picture whenever you RSVP to Facebook that you’re attending an event, or if you “Like” a particular product. Each time you click on “Attending”, that information will be posted, and if you “Like” a certain product or cause, it will be reported to the company or organization involved. They will then try to get your friends to also click “Like” by telling them that YOU “Like” them.

The first time you use an app to read an online article, you are asked if you will allow that app to access your personal information. Since we’ve done this a thousand times, we automatically hit “Allow”. What this does is that any article you read using that app is fair game and will be posted to your wall. You “allowed” once, so now, you’re stuck.

There is so much to think about, but your privacy is worth taking the extra time and effort to read and understand the Privacy Policy, and set your preferences as soon as you get Timeline. This will make you feel more secure in your “new” Facebook experiences. The next time you are tempted to click on “Attending” or “Like”, really think about it; do you want the world to know what you are doing?

There isn’t a single person out there who would like to be followed around wherever they went. Imagine that at every turn, you noticed someone right behind you, watching every move you made and taking note of every item you purchased.

How can we ever feel safe if we knew that we were constantly being tracked and monitored? Our privacy is important, but sometimes, we don’t think about protecting it until it’s already too late. If there was a stranger following you around, you could protect yourself by calling the police, but how do you protect yourself when your stalker is silent and invisible because he’s following you over the internet?

Stalking is illegal, however, digital stalking isn’t. Finding your information on line is as easy as finding your IP address. Every time you take advantage of a public hotspot, you are looking for trouble. Since the line is public, it’s open. This means that any information you enter on your computer is unencrypted. Anyone can then intercept your information and use it to their advantage.

When you are being stalked digitally, there’s no one to turn to for protection. The only way to protect your information is to change your IP address by using a proxy server. When you use a proxy server, the IP address that is available will not be yours; it will be for the proxy server. In addition, all of the information you enter is encrypted. If anyone is able to intercept your data stream, the information will not be of any use to them, because they won’t be able to read it.

If you don’t protect yourself, you are giving cyber-crooks the OK to steal your identity. Right now, identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes. Our lives are so busy that it’s easier to shop on line then to be limited to store hours. We use social networking sites to get updates and communicate with family and friends. Using a proxy server is a necessity if you want protection against the seedier element of the internet.

As if identity theft wasn’t enough of a concern, there are also marketing companies tracking us. Whenever you make a purchase on line, if your information isn’t encrypted, those purchases can be monitored. This information is used to set up a profile and target you for advertisements. That computer you bought one day will tell a marketing company that you may be interested in purchasing a printer in the near future.

Changing your IP address by using a proxy server makes your data useless to both criminals and marketing companies. You will then be free to browse the internet anonymously and safely.

You don’t want stalkers in the real world, and they shouldn’t be invited into your virtual world either. Guard your privacy and your identity; change your IP address and be confident knowing that your information is safe.