Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither.- Benjamin Franklin
Summary of the Privacy Policies of Online Services
- TAMU Howdy Portal - The Howdy Portal is an integral part of student life at Texas A&M University. The Portal is used as the primary online means for interaction with all aspects of a students business with the university. Finances, grades, class registration, housing, and meals are just a few of the things managed through the use of this Portal. The privacy Policy of the University is to not collect information or solicit that information by any means with anyone at all. However, information is gathered to be internally analyzed to provide a better end user experience. This information is never released unless legally required by investigations or the Texas Public Information Act. TAMU reserves the right to use and access any and all of the information which is accessed on the site.
- TAMU Library System - The TAMU Library website is a service to facilitate better access to the TAMU Library resources. Information is gathered through service logs for the purpose of internal optimization and diagnostics. This information will not be released unless legally required too. The Library does not sell information to third parties. The Library claims a right to the search logs.
- Frost Bank - The Frost Bank website is committed to the same core values of the Frost Bank. Frost Bank is committed to maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality regarding the information of their current and former customers. The website does employ cookies as part of the secure log in process and uses a SSL connection to ensure the security of the system. Information is not sold to third parties and only released when legally required. Frost claims the right to the log in information which a customer uses to access the information. This data is used to secure personal information on the website.
- Facebook - Facebook is the premier social networking website in existence today. The site has millions and millions of users and has recently come under fire from experts in computer security and mainstream media in the callous manner in which they share private information. While Facebook claims that they only share information which the user allows, the rapidly changing policies and options do lend themselves to confusion which can leave the user sharing more information than they actually intended. However, there are stil many options which allow the user to control to a certain extent the amount of information which they can share with people. Facebook claims ownership of anything hosted on its servers until such a time that it might be deleted.
- iTunes - Apple's iTunes is the premier online music store in the world. As such iTunes uses Apple's Customer Privacy Policy. This policy plainly states that information is gathered for internal use for an optimal customer experience and superior customer service. This policy also talks about how information is kept private and secure except for a few instances. Information may be shared with vendors or partners such as mobile phone carriers. Information will also be shared when legally required or when a matter of national defense or criminal investigation. Apple is dedicated to the security of its customers information. Apple claims an ownership to the Apple Account and the information associated with that.
- Google Blogger - Blogger is a service and a company that is provided by Google. As such, Blogger adheres to the the privacy policy of Google. Google's privacy policy states that information is gathered in order to provide the service which they are in business to provide. This information is used in any place or manner in which a Google service or account might be used. Information is shared with third parties only under the following conditions: if Google has the customer's consent. If Google is providing the information to a subsidy, affiliated company, or other trusted business or person processing the information on Google's behalf. Finally, Google will release information if legally required. Personal Information is stringently protected. Google claims ownership of certain aspects of the Google Account and the associated information.
Summary of the Privacy Settings I use for each of these Online Services
Ultimately I think that taking a personal audit of my online presence was a good thing. I think everyone should do it from time to time to make sure that they are not sharing more information than they really want too. But, I think that it is important to note that the Internet is not necessarily a safe place. People need to use caution with what they put on the internet. Just like anything else. The Internet isn't some kind of mystical fairy land where everything is peachy and everyone is nice to each other. Just like the real world there are people that just want to hurt other people. So surf cautiously on the web, and be smart.
- howdy.tamu.edu - For The Howdy Portal I share the information which is required. There are no settings to change the level of information that you can share.
- library.tamu.edu - TAMU Library also lacks the ability to change privacy settings. This is most likely because the University utilizes a Central Authentication Service which also monitors and controls the access to the private information of the students and faculty.
- Frost Bank - Frost Bank doesn't allow for changes from its very stringent security and privacy settings. The customer however is allowed to customize the security questions and passwords for access to the information.
- Facebook - On Facebook I am using custom settings. Here I have all of my information restricted to Friends only. The 'default' settings recommend that lots of things be shared with everyone and friends of friends. I am not interested in sharing that level of information. Therefore, I have restricted my information flow.
- iTunes - iTunes has some control in that it allows you to share the music types that you like to be viewed by other people. Up to this point I have opted out of this kind of activity.
- Google Blogger - Blogger allows you to share personal information such as email address, birthday, location, etc. I have opted to only share my name up to this point. Blogger also allows you to register a mobile phone which I have also not done.
Ultimately I think that taking a personal audit of my online presence was a good thing. I think everyone should do it from time to time to make sure that they are not sharing more information than they really want too. But, I think that it is important to note that the Internet is not necessarily a safe place. People need to use caution with what they put on the internet. Just like anything else. The Internet isn't some kind of mystical fairy land where everything is peachy and everyone is nice to each other. Just like the real world there are people that just want to hurt other people. So surf cautiously on the web, and be smart.
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