Knowlege is Power

In today's era of free flowing information, identity theft, and of course who can forget the internet, there are important details that we all need to remember.  The first of which is that anything that you say or do on the internet, be it by cell phone, IM, web post (such as social networking, or blogging), or by web sites such as someone's web page is that it is recorded there... forever.  I mean this quite literally,  anything that you put on the web is recorded on a server, that server has back ups, this means that your information is always there.  What happens if the company goes under?  Well there is a fairly simple answer for this...  usually companies are taken over, their data sold, and assets used by others, this will likely include your information.

Even if your information isn't carried forward, there is still a good chance that records of it will exist elsewhere in cyberspace.  Example if you post on Facebook, then it goes to all your friends, Facebook's advertisers, and their data bases.  This information is beyond you're control, its in the wilds, and anyone can use it as they see fit.  A prime example of this occurrence, is what happens when you send a picture over face book.  Consumer Reports this June (2010) has an article in which a woman's photo posted to Facebook later showed up in an online advertisement, how?  Facebook owns EVERYTHING you post to them, ever scrap of information that you post to them.

So what you say.  I can deal with it you say.  Well just remember that just as your friends can surf for information on you online, so can predators surf for information for your children.  Identity thieves can surf for information about you, and of course criminals can check if you post when you are going on vacation.  Information is power, knowledge is the application of information, hence knowledge too is power, a power more dangerous then the information it self is.  If you are not vigilant about protecting your information, then someone else will find it, they will use it and apply that knowledge to do god only knows what with it.

Remember: Always follow internet safety protocols.  Protect your information, use anti-virus (and preferably firewall) program(s), and of course be mindful of what you say and who you say it to, be it a friend, nieghbor, or the entire world.