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Americans taking steps to conceal Net activities
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Amid growing fears about online surveillance and data theft, Americans are increasingly taking steps to remove or mask their Internet activities, a study showed yesterday.
The Pew Research Center report said 86 percent of US Internet users have taken some steps to avoid online surveillance by other people or organizations.
Despite these precautions, 21 percent of online adults in the survey have had an email or social media account hijacked and 11 percent have had information like Social Security numbers or financial data stolen.
The report said 12 percent of those using the Internet have been stalked or harassed online, and 6 percent have been the victim of an online scam and lost money. Another 4 percent said they were in physical danger because of something that happened online.
According to the study, 50 percent of Internet users say they are worried about the amount of personal information about them that is online — up from 33 percent in 2009.
“Users clearly want the option of being anonymous online and increasingly worry this is not possible,” said Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Research Center’s Internet Project and an author of the report.
“Their concerns apply to an entire ecosystem of surveillance... They are more intent on trying to mask their personal information from hackers, advertisers, friends and family members than they are trying to avoid observation by the government,” Rainie said.
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