We would not be able to enjoy the fast Internet around the globe if it wasn’t for ISPs -Internet Service Providers. However, since ISPs control all online activities of each Internet user, everyone’s data can become vulnerable in case there is a security breach or a hack – unless it’s securely protected.
Unfortunately, several Internet providers have been known to track, collect and even sell customer data to third parties or use it for their own promotional purposes. There are some ISPs that only track users to optimize their service, but even they are often forced to share their data if asked by the government.
For example, Verizon, an American ISP, inserted “supercookies” into their customer mobile browsers to keep tracking them even when they were not using the Internet provided by Verizon. Supercookies cannot be easily deleted as the conventional tracking cookies. Thanks to FCC an (U.S. Federal Communications Commission) investigation, Verizon was fined and has since agreed to notify users about cookies and give an option to opt in before Verizon can track their data.
There are some exceptions, such as Swedish Internet provider Bahnhof, which takes a strong stance to protect its user privacy. Bahnhof refuses to comply with data retention laws, and rejects demands to proactively police its users for the benefit of copyright holders.
However, except for such progressive ISPs, most users have to deal with daily online privacy challenges on their own.
Different Tracking Methods Used by ISPs
1. Deep packet inspection. Deep packet inspection allows an ISP to scan the packets of data a user sends across the web, and is generally used for user protection, when checking for viruses or prioritizing data. However, it can also be used to log and sell anonymized user data in batches that include location, name, age, shopping records and so on.
2. Monitoring Internet activity. On many occasions, ISPs monitor user web activity to track, log and store data. This is a very lucrative amount of information for any company to have, and several ISPs tend to collect and sell this data to advertising companies.
3. Tracking user location through mobile devices. When it comes to web-enabled mobile devices and how they are used, ISPs can track their location throughout the day, monitoring user whereabouts in real time.
4. Complying with government’s data collection laws. Another requirement for data collection comes to ISPs from the government. Mandatory data retention laws are different across the globe, and most force ISPs to collect and store their customers’ data for a period of time. When such large amounts of data are collected and/or shared, there is always the risk of system malfunctions or hacking attacks, and huge amounts of people¹s personal information can end up in the wrong hands.
Unless one’s Internet service provider is a progressive one – such as Swedish Bahnhof – all of the Internet users should learn about basic safety measures to keep their data private.
How can one stay safe online and avoid ISP data tracking and collection?
There are a few ways to protect one’s Internet privacy: regularly deleting cookies, installing anti-virus and anti-tracking software, and making sure not to enter personal passcodes and credit card information when using open Wi-Fi networks. In order to make sure that all information that one shares is encrypted and private, the best solution is a VPN (Virtual Private Network).
A VPN encrypts user data through a secure tunnel before accessing the Internet this protects any sensitive information about one¹s location by hiding their IP address. A VPN connects a user to the Internet through an alternative path than an ISP. The only information visible to an ISP is that a user is connected to a VPN server and nothing else. All other information is encrypted by the VPN¹s security protocol.
NordVPN is determined to hide and secure users’ data with features like double data encryption and a strict no logs policy. From the moment a user turns on NordVPN, their Internet data becomes encrypted. It becomes invisible to governments, ISPs, third party snoopers and even NordVPN.
To find out more about NordVPN, please visit www.nordvpn.com.
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This entry was posted on November 29, 2016 at 8:18 am and is filed under Commentary with tags NordVPN. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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NordVPN Discusses The Privacy Dangers of ISPs & How to Stay Safe Online
We would not be able to enjoy the fast Internet around the globe if it wasn’t for ISPs -Internet Service Providers. However, since ISPs control all online activities of each Internet user, everyone’s data can become vulnerable in case there is a security breach or a hack – unless it’s securely protected.
Unfortunately, several Internet providers have been known to track, collect and even sell customer data to third parties or use it for their own promotional purposes. There are some ISPs that only track users to optimize their service, but even they are often forced to share their data if asked by the government.
For example, Verizon, an American ISP, inserted “supercookies” into their customer mobile browsers to keep tracking them even when they were not using the Internet provided by Verizon. Supercookies cannot be easily deleted as the conventional tracking cookies. Thanks to FCC an (U.S. Federal Communications Commission) investigation, Verizon was fined and has since agreed to notify users about cookies and give an option to opt in before Verizon can track their data.
There are some exceptions, such as Swedish Internet provider Bahnhof, which takes a strong stance to protect its user privacy. Bahnhof refuses to comply with data retention laws, and rejects demands to proactively police its users for the benefit of copyright holders.
However, except for such progressive ISPs, most users have to deal with daily online privacy challenges on their own.
Different Tracking Methods Used by ISPs
1. Deep packet inspection. Deep packet inspection allows an ISP to scan the packets of data a user sends across the web, and is generally used for user protection, when checking for viruses or prioritizing data. However, it can also be used to log and sell anonymized user data in batches that include location, name, age, shopping records and so on.
2. Monitoring Internet activity. On many occasions, ISPs monitor user web activity to track, log and store data. This is a very lucrative amount of information for any company to have, and several ISPs tend to collect and sell this data to advertising companies.
3. Tracking user location through mobile devices. When it comes to web-enabled mobile devices and how they are used, ISPs can track their location throughout the day, monitoring user whereabouts in real time.
4. Complying with government’s data collection laws. Another requirement for data collection comes to ISPs from the government. Mandatory data retention laws are different across the globe, and most force ISPs to collect and store their customers’ data for a period of time. When such large amounts of data are collected and/or shared, there is always the risk of system malfunctions or hacking attacks, and huge amounts of people¹s personal information can end up in the wrong hands.
Unless one’s Internet service provider is a progressive one – such as Swedish Bahnhof – all of the Internet users should learn about basic safety measures to keep their data private.
How can one stay safe online and avoid ISP data tracking and collection?
There are a few ways to protect one’s Internet privacy: regularly deleting cookies, installing anti-virus and anti-tracking software, and making sure not to enter personal passcodes and credit card information when using open Wi-Fi networks. In order to make sure that all information that one shares is encrypted and private, the best solution is a VPN (Virtual Private Network).
A VPN encrypts user data through a secure tunnel before accessing the Internet this protects any sensitive information about one¹s location by hiding their IP address. A VPN connects a user to the Internet through an alternative path than an ISP. The only information visible to an ISP is that a user is connected to a VPN server and nothing else. All other information is encrypted by the VPN¹s security protocol.
NordVPN is determined to hide and secure users’ data with features like double data encryption and a strict no logs policy. From the moment a user turns on NordVPN, their Internet data becomes encrypted. It becomes invisible to governments, ISPs, third party snoopers and even NordVPN.
To find out more about NordVPN, please visit www.nordvpn.com.
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This entry was posted on November 29, 2016 at 8:18 am and is filed under Commentary with tags NordVPN. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.