Your Life Online

The online world gives us unprecedented opportunities to chat with people around the world about current issues, to network professionally and socially, and generally to express ourselves. These are amazing and positive developments. 

But think about privacy risks when posting to discussion boards, blogs, and similar services. Electronic postings may be permanent and may define you now or at any future point. Statements made now, in jest or to a small group of colleagues, may come back to haunt you in the future.  Consider who may search the web on your name and what they may find. 

Online networking sites raise similar privacy issues. Once you post data about yourself, it may be very hard to take it back. Do you want the world to know your street address or your summer plans? Maybe you’re comfortable sharing only your email address and only with a designated, known group of people. Check for privacy options available through most online services and make choices that are right for you about what you share with whom.

For additional tips, please see the One Step Ahead link on the Information Security website: www.upenn.edu/computing/security/.