This document discusses privacy concerns regarding social media and the internet. It notes that the NSA collects facial recognition data and Facebook tracks extensive user data. It then provides tools and methods for improving online privacy such as encrypting browsers, text messages, cloud data and hard drives. Specific tools recommended include HTTPS Everywhere, TextSecure, SpiderOak, FileVault and BitLocker. The document also advises choosing privacy-focused browsers like Firefox, disabling cookies, understanding app and social media privacy settings, and keeping software updated.

1. Understanding Privacy on
Social Media and the Internet
By Christian Deschenes

2. Not So Private
• Reports of the NSA copying millions of faces a day
for their facial recognition software
• Facebook’s “Digital Shadow” claims to know who
you really are by colleting all of your data
• Soon to be personalized advertising that takes
your top two best friends on social media and
combining them as a personalized target
advertiser for the customer
• Malls/Companies are reportedly collecting location
info. on where users searched for WiFi when
shopping

3. Tools to Obtain Online Privacy
• Encrypt, Encrypt, Encrypt!
• Choosing a Correct Browser
• Disabling Online Tracking
• Setting Smart Phone
Preferences
• Understanding Social Media
Privacy Settings
• Update Software, Programs,
and Apps as much as
possible

4. What is Encryption?
• Form of cryptography
• Scrambles data into
algorithms
• Once data is scrambled,
a wide range of possible
items blend in data
• User’s with valid access
have a “key” to
obtaining the encrypted
data

5. What to Encrypt?
• Browser
• Text Messaging
• Cloud Data
• Computer/Smart
Phone Hard Drive
• Whatever else you
use (if available)

6. Encrypting your Browser
Using a site like: HTTPS Everywhere
• Creates protection from spyware and hackers who track
data online
• Easy to install/use
• Always nice that it’s Free

7. Text Message Encryption
• For iPhone users, use apps
like Wikr and Silent Circle
• For Android users, try
TextSecure for encrypted
texting
• Only downfall is trying to
get other friends to use it!

8. How to Encrypt the Cloud
• Using software like:
SpiderOak can encrypt
data on the cloud
• Protected even if
company is somehow
breached (by
hackers/malware)
• Only user has the “key”
to their data on the
cloud

9. Encrypting Hard Drives
• For Apple Macintosh use
default program:
• “FileVault”
• For Microsoft Windows use
default program:
• “BitLocker”
• For other generic Hard Drive
encryption use:
• “TrueCrypt”
• Encrypt your smartphone hard
drive (if possible)
• Really no way on an iPhone

10. Other Encryptions
• Encrypt email (if possible)
• Use: Gnu Privacy Guard
• Can’t fully encrypt yahoo
or gmail yet
• Encrypt your Instant
Messaging Program!
• Mac: Adium
• Windows: Pidgin

11. Choosing a Browser with great
Privacy Settings
• Mozilla Firefox most likely
has the best privacy
settings
• Reviews add-ons before
installation to help prevent
spyware and hackers
• Really user friendly, quick
install and clear privacy
policies
• Clearly and Accurately
informs users of their data
collection

12. Disabling Cookies
• Cookies are
programs that
gather info. about a
user
• Cookies allow a
web site to store
information and
later retrieve it
• Seems like a
complete invasion
of privacy

13. Be ‘Smart’ with your
Smart Phone
• “Free” WiFi isn’t so free when
the companies offering it is
tracking your usage
• Those free/addicting games
are so fun when you realize
that these companies are
completely recording your
data
• Be sure to understand apps
privacy settings before
installation

14. Understanding Social
Media’s Privacy Settings
• Make sure to set your profile on private!
• It will only allow accepted friends to view a user’s
profile
• In today’s world it’s becoming more and more
important to watch what you say and post on
social media, even previously posted items
• A program called “Simplewash” completely reviews
all the data that a user has posted on social media

15. Keeping Programs and Apps
Updated
• Hackers feast on old software
• Once one hacker is in, it is available to all of them
• Be sure to regularly check software for updates

16. Quick Tips:
• Change the personal name of your smart phone and
devices, so data miners won’t be able to put your name with
a location just from your device’s title
• Be smart with your passwords, don’t use the same
password for everything, and make sure to not use public
info. for security questions
• Turn phone on Airplane mode when playing “free” games to
avoid tracking
• Use multiple email addresses to separate advertising and
personal data
• Make sure location services are turned off on your smart
phone also to avoid tracking

17. The End
Sources:
• http://www.propublica.org/article/privacy-tools-
encrypt-what-you-can
• http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/07/technology/pers
onaltech/protecting-your-privacy-on-the-new-
facebook.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
• http://computer.howstuffworks.com/cookie1.htm
• https://ironsocket.com/blog/7-quick-tips-for-
protecting-your-online-privacy/