Internet Dilemmas
The internet has brought numerous benefits to society, but it has also introduced dilemmas that affect privacy, security, and ethics.
Privacy, Anonymity, and Surveillance
Privacy
- The right to control personal information and decide who can access it.
- Privacy is a fundamental right, but the internet makes it challenging to maintain.
Social Media: Platforms like Facebook and Instagram collect user data to personalize ads. Users often share personal information without realizing how it is used.
Anonymity
- The ability to hide one's identity online.
- Anonymity can be beneficial for freedom of expression but can also be misused.
Anonymous Forums: Platforms like Reddit allow users to share opinions without revealing their identity. However, this can lead to issues such as cyberbullying or illegal activities.
Surveillance
- The monitoring of online activities by governments or companies.
- Surveillance raises ethical concerns about privacy and freedom.
China's Social Credit System: Utilizes surveillance to monitor citizens' behavior, affecting their access to services.
The Right to be Forgotten
- The ability to request the removal of personal information from the internet.
- This right is controversial as it balances privacy with freedom of information.
Google's Removal Requests: Users can request the removal of search results containing personal data.
Spyware and Identity Theft
Spyware
- Malicious software that collects information without the user's knowledge.
- Spyware can track online activities, stealing sensitive data.
Keyloggers: Record keystrokes to capture passwords and personal information.
Identity Theft
- The unauthorized use of personal information to commit fraud.
- Identity theft can lead to financial losses and damage to reputation.
Equifax Data Breach (2017): Exposed personal information of 147 million people, leading to identity theft.
Cybercrime
Illegal activities conducted online or using digital technologies.
Hacking
- Unauthorized access to computer systems or networks.
- Hacking can lead to data breaches, theft, or disruption of services.
Sony PlayStation Network Hack (2011): Exposed personal information of 77 million users.
Common Mistake- Most people associate hacking as something innately negative.
- In practice, hacking can also be ethical, where hackers are hired to purposefully breach an organization's security to inform them of potential future issues.
- Ethical hacking is also known as "white-hat" hacking.
- On the other hand, some hackers are "unethical", meaning that they maliciously breach security for their own gain.
Viruses and Ransomware
- Malicious software that spreads by infecting files.
- Malware that locks files and demands payment for restoration.
- Viruses and ransomware can cause significant damage to individuals and organizations.
WannaCry Ransomware Attack (2017): Affected 230,000 computers in 150 countries, disrupting healthcare and other services.
Social Engineering
- Manipulating people to reveal confidential information.
- Social engineering exploits human trust to gain access to sensitive data.
Phishing Emails: Trick users into providing passwords or credit card information.
Denial of Service and the Dark Web
Denial of Service (DoS)
- Overloading a system to make it unavailable to users.
- DoS attacks can disrupt services and cause financial losses.
GitHub DoS Attack (2018): Temporarily took down the platform by overwhelming it with traffic.
The Dark Web
- A part of the internet not indexed by search engines, often used for illegal activities.
- The dark web facilitates criminal activities like drug trafficking and illegal trade.
Silk Road: An online marketplace for illegal goods, shut down by the FBI in 2013.
Trolling
- Deliberately provoking or harassing others online.
- Trolling can cause emotional distress and harm to individuals and communities.
Social Media Trolling: Targeting public figures with abusive comments.
Addressing Internet Dilemmas
Legal and Regulatory Measures
- Data Protection Laws: GDPR in Europe enforces strict data privacy regulations.
- Cybercrime Legislation: Laws to prosecute hackers and cybercriminals.
Technological Solutions
- Encryption: Protects data from unauthorized access by encoding private information.
- Antivirus Software: Detects and removes malware.
Education and Awareness
- Digital Literacy: Teaching users about online safety and privacy.
- Awareness Campaigns: Highlighting the risks of sharing personal information online.
- How do privacy and anonymity differ, and what are the ethical implications of each?
- What are the most common forms of cybercrime, and how can individuals protect themselves?
- How do legal frameworks like GDPR address internet dilemmas, and what are their limitations?
To what extent should governments prioritise privacy over security in the digital age?
