Anonymity, Privacy, and Security Online

The word “futility” should probably show up somewhere in the title of Pew’s most recent report on online privacy: “Anonymity, Privacy, and Security Online.” According to that report, “many [Internet users] think it is not possible to be completely anonymous online.” But we still try: 86% of Internet users have taken steps to mask their identity, such as clearing browser cookies or encrypting email. 68% believe that current laws are not protective enough of consumer privacy. There are steps that Internet users can take to increase their privacy however. Awareness is a good start. While he’s not an impartial figure, Mozilla’s Gary Kovacs provides a nice, short (slightly shocking) introduction to the problem in his TED Talk “Tracking Our Online Trackers.” See last month’s Reference Notes article “Simple Tools to Refract PRISM in Your Library” for some easy-to-implement solutions that libraries can offer their patrons. Anything but futile, these options can indeed help library patrons remain anonymous, private, and secure online.