Staying Anonymous in a Time of Surveillance
From Googling to e-mailing to social networking, every day millions of Americans unknowingly leave behind digital breadcrumbs while surfing the web, sometimes at the risk of compromising their anonymity. But while there’s technology available to stay anonymous in a time of surveillance, experts say policies and legislation won’t protect us from privacy invasion or being attacked in cyberspace.
As a medium, the Internet has allowed its users an unprecedented level of anonymity. Usernames and avatars hide names and true identities in online forums and communities, and anyone can choose how much to disclose to others in cyberspace. However, while most understand how posting personal information could have severe consequences, very few realize their online activity can be monitored and cross-referenced to reveal clues about their identity.
