Internet Privacy Repealed
Late last year in the closing months of the Obama administration Internet privacy protections were approved by the Federal Communications Commission. However, these regulations designed to protect everyday citizens from having their privacy invaded had yet to go into effect. This month congress passed a bill to repeal these very same protections and President Trump signed the bill without hesitation.
The bill passed by Congress eliminated requirements that Internet service providers secure customers’ permission before sharing or outright selling their browsing information and other internet data to the highest bidder. Internet service providers argued that these rules were a much more onerous set of regulations placed on them versus the ones placed on companies like Facebook and Google. While this may very well hold some validity, the use of those products is voluntary; use of Internet service providers is not. Rather, they are a consumer’s gateway to the Internet itself.
What does it mean for you?
Some seem to have the opinion the repeal of these Internet protections does not change much, as online companies already collect our information in droves. However, the implications are huge. Imagine a simple underwear purchase online. Internet providers can now sell the size of underwear purchased to users’ insurance companies for their personal evaluations or provide advertisers with more detailed information on individuals’ preferences and history than ever before. The entire history of your internet usage is now up for sale to the highest bidder. Whoever that may be…
Even if your Internet usage might seem like pretty boring information, it can be used to do serious harm. A user’s detailed financial, medical, and legal history/issues can all be provided to third parties; this is all information that could be used to damage, blackmail, or threaten innocent, unsuspecting people. The most unsettling part is this could happen to anyone, including you. The information is up for grabs to the highest bidder, regardless of whom they are or what they plan to do with it.
Read More About how YOur internet security can be compromised here
What can you do?
Be Heard:
There is something you can do to prevent your information from being sold if you perceive this move by Congress to be as wrong as most do. With enough push back these protections can once again be put into place. Contact your local US Congressional Representative and let your voice be heard. Every individual should have the right to internet privacy. No corporation should be able to take that away from people.
Protect Yourself:
So what can be done to protect personal Internet information now that the protective regulations have been repealed? Certain browsers such as the Epic Privacy Browser are useful, but don’t eliminate the problem of needing to utilize the Internet service provider’s gateway. One method would be to utilize the Tor browser. Unfortunately this is a little complex for the average user and can lead law enforcement to begin asking questions as they think an individual may have something to hide; strange how privacy is viewed as dangerous..
Evaluating all the options, perhaps the best choice is to utilize a VPN. However it’s important to avoid choosing a free VPN service. The free services are often of a quality level consistent with their price, causing more problems than they are worth. For Apple devices one might consider a VPN called Cloak. For PC users we personally suggest NordVPN, which is $69 per year. These services add complexity to searches but prevent the sale of personal browsing and other internet information to third parties until government representatives begin listening to the outcry for privacy protection and take the time to reconsider this dangerous privacy repeal.
AIR802 will keep you up-to-date as more information arises!