Exactly What Happens on the Internet?

It has been said that getting information off the internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant - sometimes you get so much, you wonder if you really got anything at all. With so much information online and more sites launching every day, we have more knowledge at our fingertips in this century than at any other time in the history of the world - maybe put together.

So with so many people online, what exactly is going on? How does it affect me? Here's what happens on the internet every sixty seconds:

(Infographic by- Shanghai Web Designers)

Kind of overwhelming, isn't it? And guess what? If you've done any of the 25 or so activities above, your information is on the internet. It's out there. Whether you like it or not.

I have an uncle that says he refuses to put any of his information online, whether it's through Facebook, LinkedIn, Blogger, etc. Have you ever bought anything online I ask? He answers in the affirmative. Well I hate to break it to you Uncle, but your information is on the interwebs! It's out there! So how can we protect ourselves? Here are a few tips on how to keep your information private and secure:

1 - Don't accept friend requests from anybody you don't know.

2 - Don't chat or pass personal information to anybody you don't know. 

3 - Have an active and updated virus scanner on your machine that can catch spy/malware.

4 - Whenever you're doing anything with sensitive information, check the beginning of the web URL for a green mark (highlight, checkmark, lock, etc.) showing the page is secure.

5 - Change settings to private on any site where personal information can be shown.

These five tips are a good beginning to staying safe online, are they comprehensive. Being aware of what information we are giving out and who can see it is always a must, but there are countless ways that others can find out about us without our knowledge. Being knowledgeable about our actions online is the greatest measure of protection we can have.

For more information on how to stay safe online, refer to the Internet Safety Project, a website dedicated to helping families and individuals protect themselves so that they can freely browse the internet without fear of exposing sensitive information.