How Is Information Collected?
Information is collected on the Internet with and without your knowledge.
Like to surf the Web? Web sites often monitor the pages you visit and the information you view. This data is recorded in a file called a “cookie” and stored on your own computer. When you revisit the site, it opens the cookie file to access stored information. Cookies allow Web sites to greet you by name, remember what you bought or saw and save you time re-entering information. But as Web sites gather information, they eventually can collect a complete data picture of you.
When you enter a chat room discussion, leave a message on a bulletin board, register with a commercial site, complete a survey, enter a contest, or order a product, you send information into cyberspace. In fact, the information requested may be the price you pay to enter the Web site. But every time you provide information online, you add to the body of information available about you. And this information travels in often unexpected ways. You’ll need to take preventive measures to avoid leaving a trail.