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In reality, even information as simple as your computer's IP address isn't as
harmless as you might think. A malicious and knowledgeable hacker could use
it to find and damage your system, especially if you have a static IP address
that doesn't change because you have an always-on connection such as DSL or
cable. And the fact is that, you simply don't know what can happen if your
privacy is compromised. Think of it this way: If you choose to keep your home
address out of the phone book, you wouldn't want to discover that the
information was in the white pages without your permission. It's not
necessarily dangerous for someone to know your home address, but it could be,
and making it public should be your choice. The potential for abuse is
perhaps even more worrisome than the invasion of privacy. There's no
guarantee that companies won't sell your personal information to the highest
bidder or even inadvertently transmit it to malicious hackers.
From the less harmful cookie to
more nefarious data collection software or Web bugs , Spy-Ware can enter your
computer as a software virus (along with new software) or from a Web page
while you surf. That Spy-Ware then sends your personal information--such as
Web sites you've visited, your IP address, or your computer's host name--back
to a parent company or server, where it can be shared with advertisers or
used to serve up ads targeted at users like you.
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