Somehow, though, we have neglected to assure our privacy over the Internet. With increasing consumer concern, Internet companies have been forced to respond by increasing their concern for customer privacy. But in the attempt to avoid government regulations, all they have to put forth are pitiful attempts at self regulation. Where our privacy is concerned, however, that is unacceptable. Self regulation is an inadequate policy, and should be replaced by government regulations.
Internet companies have many different ways to gather information on surfers.
Most often, it is data given by the surfer in order to log onto a site. From that point n, the companies can track the movement of the surfer. They can also get information by numbering and tracking equipment, software, documents, and operating systems, thus tracing connections made by the user. Just this past year, Intel embedded a serial number into its latest microprocessor and refused to remove it, and Microsoft collected identification numbers during the registration of Windows98, and included such numbers in documents created with its office software. Things like free airline miles, free Internet service, and lotteries lure people into giving their information away.