Credit: deanjshaw.com
A new survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet Project underwritten by Carnegie Mellon University finds that:
86% of internet users have taken steps online to remove or mask their digital footprints—ranging from clearing cookies to encrypting their email.
55% of internet users have taken steps to avoid observation by specific people, organizations, or the government.
The representative survey of 792 internet users, among a sample of 1,002 adults ages 18 and older, also finds that notable numbers of internet users say they have experienced problems because others stole their personal information or otherwise took advantage of their visibility online. Some of the key findings:
21% of internet users have had an email or social networking account compromised or taken over by someone else without permission.
12% have been stalked or harassed online.
11% have had important personal information stolen such as their Social Security Number, credit card, or bank account information.
6% have been the victim of an online scam and lost money.
6% have had their reputation damaged because of something that happened online.
4% have been led into physical danger because of something that happened online.
Still, 59% of internet users do not believe it is possible to be completely anonymous online, while 37% of them believe it is possible.
Anonymity, Privacy, and Security Online
Follow the Pewinternet.org complete report here.
