Increasing dependence on internet and Internet Security Measures

Internet refers to a collection of electronic networks containing information that

allow people to get information and communicate in a number of ways. On
internet, massive amount of data is shared by millions of people with others.
Internet has facilitated people to get information, share information and
communicate with others. There are many others advantages of internet which
have made life easy. However, with these advantages, one has to consider about
the security and safety of using internet. It is questionable that to how much extent
internet is safe. Widespread use of internet has generated many security issues.
People face risk to lose their digital identities through online transactions, emails,
and many communicative resources. Moreover, there are many chances of losing
data and identities through spam and viruses. To combat these issues, many antiviruses and anti-spam software are available. However, there is no software which
can prevent theft of digital identity. On everyday basis, digital identities are stolen
and shared with others for illegal purposes. Cyber stalkers and online predators
steal digital identities through online communities. Despite of all these security
threats, people use internet because of its wide range benefits.
There are many ways through which internet users can deal with the online
insecurities. However, internet safety is like a person driving in a street between
two neighbors in which one is safe and the other is dangerous. The driver has no
choice to make a wrong turn towards dangerous neighbor, otherwise, he will
regret. Online communities need to establish more secure ways of communication.

Over the past decade, online communities have increased massively. These
communities allow people to meet with their friends, relatives and professional
circles. In addition to this, these communities also give opportunity to meet with
new friends and people from across the world. From this point, online communities
are at great risk. People used to make fake identities to hack accounts of others
for getting their personal information which can be used for illegal purposes.
Through these steps, issues of trust arise. For fair use of internet, users must be at
a point where they can trust each other for establishing long term and productive
relationship (Kollman, 2001).
Security issues in online auction sites are also very common. There are dozens of
online auction sites which sell wide range of things from cigars to cars and from
books to patents. On these auction sites, people used to buy items from other
parties through a virtual media. There are many chances that the things to be
bought are stolen from somewhere and placed on these sites for selling.
Moreover, people also face hesitation to trust on the other parties at the time of
payment through digital accounts. There are high risks of hacking credit cards and
illegal transfer of money. With the spread of e-commerce, many new security
issues have been arising which need to be resolved for fair completion of
transactions. The financial institutions have been facing technical concerns as well
as legal issues in ecommerce. The technical issues include security of banking
information or credit card number safety. On the other hand, legal issues include
responsibility of individuals for buying or selling over internet (Rhee, 2003).

Financial institutions face challenges in management of millions of encryption keys

for their users.
Because of raising security issues in on internet, many companies have developed
security solutions for internet users. These efforts are limited to development of
software, encryption keys, and laws regarding illegal use of identities. Although
these security measures have been working for making digital identities and online
transactions safe but they are still far behind from making internet an absolute
secure media. Industry wide cooperation and efforts can ensure security, privacy,
and financial institutions and data confidentiality. Though this cooperation, image
of online transactions can be improved. At the same time, some social issues have
started to emerge with growth of linkage among businesses and individuals.
Consumers have been adapting themselves to the new ways of shopping and
doing business over digital media. However, because of security issues, they are
hesitating to trust a particular network for completing transactions.
Internet has also raised issues related to access of certain materials. Many books,
music volumes and other literature materials are protected through copyrights. To
some extent, these security measures are working for ensuring security. However,
internet hackers have developed many new ways for stealing information.
Therefore, long measures need to be taken for ensuring internet security.
Internet is also spreading immoral and unethical materials which are not
acceptable to many societies. Spread of pornography materials are common
issues in this context. In order to deal with these issues, browser security tools

have been developed. User certificate tools are the simplest tools through which
these issues can be resolved and unethical materials can be prevented to spread.
Moreover, personal certificates are also used by several browsers to provide
secure access to internet content. Despite of these security measures, there are
very rare laws regarding protection of internet content. In many countries, certain
laws have been developed for providing internet security. However, these laws rely
on the traditional measures for allowing security. On the other hand, hackers use
innovative ways for stealing information from internet. In this way, effectiveness of
these laws becomes low. Moreover, implementation of these laws is another big
question.
In conclusion, despite of widespread and extensive growth of internet, it is still an
insecure media for communication and business. Internet users are just at
beginning to develop and learn secure ways of browsing and transacting over
internet. One simple way or methods cannot stop hackers for stealing information
from internet and ensuring privacy. Organizations and individuals have been
relying on internet for getting data, communication and business. Therefore, it is
needed that organizations and individuals should increase their technological
expertise and knowledge for raising standards of security.
Thesis Statement:
The thesis statement for the essay is as follows:
Internet security measures are insufficient to compensate increasing dependence
of organizations and individuals over internet

References

Kollman, T. 2001. Measuring the acceptance of electronic marketplaces: A

study based on a used-car trading site. Journal of Computer-Mediated
Communication,

6:2.

Retrieved

from

http://www.ascusc.org/jcmc/vol6/issue2/kollmann.html (Accessed on 30th

November, 2012)
Rhee, M. Y. 2003. Internet Security: Cryptographic Principles, Algorithms
and Protocols. Chichester: Wiley