Conceptual Research & Reflection Project

Concept 26: Privacy and Security

The internet is vast and filled with technology that, not long ago, the world thought could never have existed. With these technologies the internet provides some excellent tools for leaning, researching, schooling, entertainment and much more. However along side the pro’s of the internet sit the cons. Privacy and security are considered extremely important when browsing the web. With an increasing number of viruses, spyware, adware and worms appearing throughout the internet our privacy and security is being attacked. It is therefore important that users of the internet understand how these are contracted, what they do and how to stop/prevent them from occurring.

Firstly it is important to know that malware isn’t necessarily contracted by downloading. There are many other ways for computers to become infected. Each site that you visit may contain spyware or adware. Users may not be aware of this as it is often saved within the pages history. This history is known as cache and cookies, which are used so that each time the user visits the site it doesn’t have to load up all the information again. Harmful files etc can be stored onto the computer this way. It is important that users are aware of this and know how to clean out cookies and page history. Most browsers contain options to clean out these files in their option menus. However some users may only want to clear out page history which is harming their computers and may follow a number of different steps which involve the use of virus scanners etc.

Virus scanners are one of the best ways to clear any unwanted viruses from your computer. They can be obtained for free if you want basic cover or you can pay a small fee if you want more comprehensive scanners. A good example of a free virus scanner is AVG. AVG provides a comprehensive scan of your computer for free. It also includes tools which warn you if something contains a virus before installing and even warns you when an internet site you’re entering may contain harmful files. Spyware scanners can also be used to eliminate some forms of malware. They are similar to virus scanners however they are targeted at different applications and files. By using these scanners regularly, users are able to keep their machines running healthy. However more can be done to protect your self.

Firewalls are another tool that is used to prevent the flow of spyware and viruses onto your computer. They can prevent incoming security threats by displaying messages to the user asking whether or not they want to allow certain files to connect. The Microsoft firewall is one of the most common and comprehensive firewalls available today and it is highly recommended that it is kept active at all times. Other firewalls are also available for example ZoneAlarm, which is another popular firewall.

Annotated Bibliography:

#1: Anonymity and privacy on the Internet
URL: http://www.iusmentis.com/technology/remailers/

Engelfriet, A. (1997). Anonymity and privacy on the Internet. Retrieved October 14, 2008, from http://www.iusmentis.com/technology/remailers/

This site gives information on keeping yourself anonymous on the internet, how to keep your files secure and explains a number of security aspects that appear on the internet. There may not appear to be a lot of information on this page, however when you look into the hyperlinks, the author provides files and other useful applications to prevent security leaks etc. He also goes into great detail about each one and its purpose. This information will be useful when giving examples in my work.

#2: 12 Privacy and Security Issues Your Customers Care About
URL: http://www.polepositionmarketing.com/emp/12-privacy-and-security-issues-your-customers-care-about/

deGeyter, S. (2007). 12 Privacy and Security Issues Your Customers Care About. Retrieved October 15, 2008, from http://www.polepositionmarketing.com/emp/12-privacy-and-security-issues-your-customers-care-about/

This site focuses on the marketing side of security and privacy. It explains to readers that when trying to attract new customers to an online store it is important to set your page up properly and by doing so you can prevent data leaks and security risks. It lists 12 ways in which you can improve your webpage to prevent this from happening. I like the way the page is set out. It is written clearly and gets straight to the point. It is also written from a marketer’s perspective which will be useful to talk about in my work.


Concept 17: The impact of text-based real-time chat

In a world filled with mobile phones, landlines and smart phones, text-based real-time chat on the internet is one of the most common and talked about ways of communicating. Whether it is over an internet messenger such as Windows Live or in real-time chat rooms there are millions of users connecting onto the internet each day solely to communicate with their friends, family and work colleagues via web based chat. However there are many pros and cons to using text-based real-time chat which range anywhere from identity theft to a cheaper source of long distance communication.

Text-based real-time chat has had an extremely positive impact on the world. It allows people from all over the globe to communicate instantaneously with family members, friends and work colleagues for free. In most cases it allows users to chat more freely amongst themselves as they are not confined so much by today’s communication standards. Here the use of slang can be freely used and in many cases is encouraged and accepted. However, even when using slang, a text-based conversation can still appear to be quite formal and expressive. The use of this method of chat also allows users to be participating in many conversations are a given time. This is something which the telephone can not do. This feature gives the user more privacy in comparison to talking in a large group in the outside world.

Although there are many positive aspects of text-based real-time chat, there are also a large number of negative effects that it is having on today’s society. Scientists believe that the constant use of text-based real-time chat amongst children is causing a negative effect specifically on children who grow up with the technology. They believe that these children will develop social communication problems, spelling and punctuation problems and comprehension problems. Recently there have been many news articles on the subject which warn parents of these problems.

Another problem with text-based real-time chat is identity theft. There are many hackers on the internet who specifically aim their work at messenger hacking programs and applications which allow users to find other peoples passwords and account information. However this sort of behaviour can be prevented simply by not accepting any unknown files or documents from people you don’t know. There also lies the problem of interpretation. Text is often hard to interpret when compared to speech. It is often hard to know whether someone is being sarcastic or serious when using web based chat. This can be a problem in certain situations, however with the use of emoticons, the chat can usually be read extremely accurately.

Annotated Bibliography:

#1: Instant Messaging – Collaborative Tool or Educator’s nightmare!
URL: http://www.unb.ca/naweb/proceedings/2003/PaperFarmer.html

Farmer, R. (2003). Instant Messaging – Collaborative Tool or Educator’s nightmare! Retrieved October 15, 2008, from http://www.unb.ca/naweb/proceedings/2003/PaperFarmer.html

This site is an in-depth report written about instant messengers. It considers both pros and cons and gives some interesting statistics from surveys etc. It provides graphs and other visuals to help put the point across. I find it very easy to read and I can see how some of the information will fit nicely into my work. Some of the important information given in the paper includes advantages and disadvantages of IM and impacts IM is having on school. I also enjoy how this is written in a serious tone. By writing like this, the points are easier to believe.

#2: Instant Messaging & Its Effects On Student Life
URL: http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~yrjiang/

Jiang, R. (2006). Instant Messaging & Its Effects On Student Life
Retrieved October 15, 2008, from http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~yrjiang/

This site is extremely comprehensive. It provides a background and history of instant messengers, social effects, academic effects, and solutions. The site suggests that instant messaging is affecting student’s academic progress greatly. As well as putting forward these points, the author also takes the time to list examples of points to back them up. I found it easy to read and as I was reading I found that he agreed with a lot of points that I was bringing up in my work.


Concept 7: Netiquette

Noob, Newbie, flaming and trolling are extremely common terms when browsing online forums, chat rooms and games. These terms often relate to people who refuse to or have yet to learn good communication skills on the internet. “Netiquette” is the term given to the etiquette guidelines for posting messages to online services, and particularly Internet newsgroups. Put simply, it is the correct way to communicate and interact with other people online. Just like society follows certain standards and rules when communicating, so does the internet. With new users appearing on the internet everyday it is becoming hard to enforce these rules and this is how the previous terms developed.

Flaming and trolling come hand in hand with one-another. A troll is someone who lurks around forums insulting people for no apparent reason and are often not liked or wanted by the rest of the community. Their crude and insulting posts are called “flames”. Trolls often use poor grammar, no punctuation, foul language and often post inappropriate images throughout forums. It is not uncommon for a troll to be a younger person who does not understand the rules of the internet and the forums there are posting on.

A noob or newbie refer to someone who is new to something. Within the internet the terms can be used in gaming, forums or chat rooms. It is often seen as a cheap insult aimed at belittling someone. Newbie’s tend to be targets for trolls and flames because they usually don’t understand a lot about what is happening around them. However experienced users of the internet will usually lend a helping hand and provide them with whatever information they need.

All of the above problems relate to netiquette. If users were properly educated on how to act when on the internet acts such as this would be a lot less common and it would make the internet a friendlier and safer place. Many people have dedicated whole websites to explaining that netiquette is and how to follow it correctly. However these sites are difficult to find if you don’t specifically know what you’re looking for.

It is hard to teach netiquette to someone who is new to the internet. However you must remember that people on the internet shouldn’t be treated any differently to how you treat people in the real world. If you see someone trolling or flaming, perhaps it would be a good idea to inform them of their wrongs and point them to a webpage which explains what netiquette is.

Annotated Bibliography:
#1: Netiquette Guidelines
URL: http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1855.txt

Hambridge, S. (1995). Netiquette guidelines. Retrieved October 14, 2008, from http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1855.txt

This site explains what netiquette is and why it is needed to maintain a friendly environment within certain applications on the internet. It provides lists of how to use netiquette in One-to-One Communication, One-to-Many Communication, Information Services Selected Bibliography, and Security Considerations. Because the information is listed with dot points and under clear headings, it allows the reader to understand the information more clearly. The document is extremely comprehensive and I find it easy to understand. I will therefore be able to incorporate it into my work easily.

#2: A SHORT GUIDE TO NETIQUETTE
URL: http://evo-training.pbwiki.com/f/Netiquette.htm

Caplan, N. (2003) A SHORT GUIDE TO NETIQUETT. Retrieved October 14, 2008, from http://evo-training.pbwiki.com/f/Netiquette.htm

This is a fun little page which contains the “The Dummies Guide to Listserv Netiquette”. It shares the “10 golden rules of netiquette”. The information given is extremely relevant to the topic and I enjoy the comical tone of the overall page. The 10 golden rules are given in dot points so that it is easy to read and pick information from. It highlights the importance of writing with correct grammar and double checking your work before posting it. It also reminds the reader that if they don’t have anything important to give to the topic then you shouldn’t say anything.