问答题
At our house, nobody gets more mail than Jake: catalogs,
coupons, and offers to subscribe to magazines.{{U}} (61) He is also
urged to donate to worth causes and take advantage of some pretty incredible
credit-card offers.{{/U}} He ignores all of them. What do they
expect? He's a dog. {{U}} {{U}} {{/U}} {{/U}}{{U}}It all
started when I used Jake's name as an assumed name on the Internet. in an
attempt to protect what's left of my privacy.{{/U}} Before I knew it, junk was
pouring in, proving once again that these days every move you make online can
be, and often is, carefully watched and recorded by people who don't know you
from your dog--everyone from ad and insurance agencies to nonprofit groups and
even the dreaded telemarketers. And let's not forget the more, shall we say,
unscrupulous characters. {{U}}(63) We've all heard horror stories about
people whose identities, in the form of credit card or Social Security numbers,
were assumed by crooks. Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes
around.{{/U}} Even if you never buy anything online, your privacy
can be compromised by Web "cookies." A cookie is a small file that a Web site
stores on your computer containing information it can use to "recognize" you if
you return to that site. Most cookies pose little risk to
privacy on their own. The problem comes when others get hold of your cookies. In
a highly publicized case earlier this year, DonbleClick Inc planned to cross
reference consumer cookie data with information from a marketing database, such
as name, address and credit card purchase history.{{U}} (64) Seen as
an unethical violation of consumers' privacy, a lawsuit followed. DoubleClick
backed off the plan. for now.{{/U}} In the meantime, other
threats to your cyber privacy still exist. Example: Anyone who
knows where to look can buy stolen credit card numbers in chat rooms, and spends
up every penny on your card in minutes. {{U}}(65) As new
technologies bring out the creativity in crooks, your best bet may be plain
old-fashioned vigilance.{{/U}} Keep track of each penny, balance your checkbook
and follow up on discrepancies in your statements immediately. However much the
world change, it still pays to be your own watchdog.