Summary

The Internet started as a medium for free, unhindered communication. As an expanding network of ideas, thoughts, and Web sites grew, the Internet quickly brought people together from all over the world. Today, the Internet is faced with countless threats. It is being exploited by large companies to monitor and “understand” people's habits, and it is a money tree that everyone with a business mind wants a piece of.

As we reflect throughout this book, there is a struggle between the freedom the Internet brings and the dangers it delivers. Stay aware of what you and your family do in the online world. Learn to control your Web browser and make it work for you instead of against you. Watch which sites are making cookies for you, and block them if you know they are used exploitatively, such as for advertising, monitoring, and tracking. Keep your eye out for Web bugs, and e-mail the Web sites you visit if you think they are inappropriate. Be wary of the programs you download and install. Some organizations want to watch what you are doing online, but it is your right not to let them. Shop smart online. Read a company's privacy policy. Is the company exercising good security practices? Does it use SSL and ask for minimal personal information? In the battle over your privacy online, it is up to you to protect yourself.