Data Tracking

Everyday we browse the internet to either scroll though Facebook, search for information, play games, or to communicate with relatives, and some people even use the internet as a form of income. We are all tied to the internet in some way. As we continue to use the internet it begins to track more and more information about us for example where you’ve been, what you like to do, and even your favorite foods. Not only is your browser history tracked on the internet our footsteps, location, and anything you do on your phone, and if you are someone who cashes your checks online or through an app your information could be tracked. Even though it may not be used for malicious purposes its still tracked and stored somewhere on the web. This is something that is based on important due to 75% of Americans believing the information is extremely important.

Who's Tracking you?
When going though the hiring process employers tend to screen future employees on their social media accounts and other online information about them. Over 50% of employers admitted to using online search engines to research their future employees. This can and will effect the chances of an employee being hired. Based on a decision or a post they've made in the past. If a company is looking for some one specific with a unique background this could help this could help the company and hurt the employee depending on its use. Our data is not only used by our employers but, by big companies. Big companies like Google, Facebook, Twitter they use our data that's been gathered from our web explorations to advertise their product to us more efficiently the source of this is data brokers. These agencies sell the cookies and data gained from our web searches.

How to prevent tracking
There are several ways of preventing your information from being tracked or stolen on the internet. One way is to download a VPN(Virtual Private Network). A VPN is a piece of software, that allows you to change your IP address so you computers location cannot be located. Another piece of software that you can use is a web browser specifically equipped to handle your IP address. Along with many of the other privacy tools that's needed to hide your presence on the internet, and one of these browsers is called Tor its one of the best ways to prevent data tracking it's able to render you nearly invisible on the internet.