[SHOCKING!] The Internet Is Horrible
Are you like me? Do you hate these kinds of National-Enquirer-style [SHOCKING] headlines? Or do you like sensationalistic headlines that draw you in and make you click something, only to find the article filled with things you already know?
It’s not [SHOCKING] to learn that the Internet is getting worse, is it? And it’s not so [SHOCKING] that many internet-savvy people are taking advantage of it and profiting from the sorry state of things on the Internet. Its sad , but true: [SHOCKING] headlines do generate traffic.
Well here’s a [SHOCKER] – things are only going to get worse.
[SHOCKING] Ransomware is now the most feared type of malware. And it’s only going to get worse. It’s easy money for those author it. But heck, these days you don’t even have to author it, there are “do-it-yourself-ransomware-kits” you can buy on the dark web that make it easy to create your very own ransomware and distribute it – as long as you’re willing to pay a percentage of your ill-gotten gains to the criminals who authored the ransomware. For those so inclined, there’s the promise of huge rewards and, sadly, very little risk of getting caught.
And because ransomware makes it possible for criminals to make make a whole lot of money, very quickly, with very little risk, it’s not going to go away anytime soon. In fact, it’s only going to worse. Is that [SHOCKING]?
The best way to stop ransomware is not to get it in the first place. If you’re counting on software to stop ransomware you’re going to be sadly disappointed. No security software is going to stop 100% of all the different variants and types of ransomware. But the software between your ears is your best bet.
Every day new variations of ransomware crawl out onto on the Internet like a bunch of slithering poisonous snakes. And because there are so many new variations and types of ransomware being released every day, no security software program can keep up with it, and no security software can protect you from all of it.
What can you do about it?
- Think before you click (really think!)
- Use common sense all of the time
- Don’t ever click links in spam email.
- Don’t be fooled by phishing emails. Don’t know what phishing emails are? Here, read this. Or this.
- Use good security software like Emsisoft
- Steer clear of suspicious sites. Stay off of sites containing p/or/no/graph/y, get-rich-quick schemes, gambling and games of chance, and other off-the-beaten track web sites.
[SHOCKING] PRIVACY: You have none!
You no longer have any expectation of privacy on the Web. That’s not so [SHOCKING], is it? You had to know this was coming. We all have seen this coming for a long time.
You lost some of your privacy when you bought a house; when you bought a car; when you got a driver’s licence; when you got a credit card. Now stir in the Internet to that mix, and you’ve just about lost every last shred of your privacy.
So, don’t be too upset about the recent decision our U.S. government made that now allows your U.S.-based ISP to collect and sell your personal browsing data without your permission. It was bound to happen. But [SHOCKING]Unlike some of the stories floating around out there on the Internet, your Social Security number is not going to be published on the Web.
Plus… [SHOCKING] you still have some options. If you think it’s going to help, you can contact your ISP and opt-out of their data collection and prevent them from selling your browsing data to any third-party.
But you still won’t have much privacy.
VPNs? Yes, most of us know about VPNs. If you’re not sure what a VPN is, see this page. But what we don’t know about VPNs is how how secure and private they are. Do you trust a VPN not to collect your browsing data just because they say they won’t? Many VPNs are located outside the country. Do you know the laws of the countries in which those VPNs are located? And just because a VPN says they don’t keep logs of your Internet activity, are you going to trust them? I’m not so sure I’d bet money on that. If they violate any or all of their promises, what are you going to do, sue them? Have you ever tried to sue a company located in a different country from the one in which you live? Not easy. Not cheap.
[SHOCKING] Here’s what you need to do if you want privacy:
- Get rid of your Internet connection and cut the cord
- Get rid of your cellphone
- Get rid of your car
- Get rid of your driver’s license
- Shut off all your utilities
- Sell your house
- Take the money you made from selling your house and use some of it to pay a good lawyer and set up a blind trust – then use the money from the blind trust to buy an acre or two of land in some remote desert.
- Stay off the grid. Generate your own electricity (build a wind turbine!). Grow your own food (which might be difficult in the desert, so you might want to find some other remote location!)
- Ride a horse or a mule – or if you like to exercise. walk or ride a bicycle
- Communicate with smoke signals or hand-delivered notes.
- USE CASH! ALWAYS!
I bet you can think of some other good ways to remain private too. Suggestions are welcome! But the ones we listed should get you off to a good start.
That’s about the end of our [SHOCKING] article. We promise we’re never going to get into the business of scaring you to get your attention.No one knows better than we do that helping people without scaring them is often not very lucrative – but it is the way we have always done things – and it’s the way we will always do things… even if it kills us! It may not be the way to making a lot of money, but it the right way.
[SHOCKING] The Internet is horrible, but we like it and we wouldn’t want to live without it. How about you?
Your comments are welcome!
I hate the sensational headlines. I consider myself a mature, responsible adult so talk to me like one. They are just like commercials on TV. They insult a person’s intelligence & I am really not the grumpy, cynical old Lady I sound like.
Some of us ‘oldsters’ can still live without the web or cell phones for a couple of hours a day. But, for our grandchildren and our middle-aged children the internet is life itself. They cannot go to sleep without their cell phone inches away from their pillow. They cannot drive their cars without texting. They go on endlessly about superficial things [SHOCKING] adding drama where life has not provided it. They have invented a dialogue that gives me a headache trying to decipher. They smile at people who read bound novels (a superior smile at that). Some are impatient if they are asked questions about their technology. They change devices faster than I can understand what, where, why, or for how long (usually only until the next edition is released). Of concern is how little they fear their identities being stolen. Life on the internet hums along. It is a world my 8 year grandson is already more proficient navigating and understanding than I. I will deal with this threat in the only sane way I know…..cut back my involvement. I don’t need to explore every claim of new and exciting changes or [shocking] discoveries. But there will be changes coming for the young who for now are freely enjoying everything the internet promises and not taking time to be cautious.
This is just my personal opinion but I think people need to take more of a active role in protecting their privacy on line and off. If you don’t I don’t know who else will. Privacy is not 100 % guaranteed by any means but that does not mean you leave the doors, windows, and everything else to your home wide open. I’m saying you close up what you can, be careful of programs that do it for you “that Cloudeight has not recommended”. In other words checked out. You could end up with a brick for a computer. Use common sense, every browser is not the same, keep a good anti virus, be careful what you open up, and don’t open up attachments in email. I agree with Cloudeight on the VPN part. I’m not using it because I don’t know what is good and bad. Cloudeight is trying to protect you from this. I’m not saying a VPN is bad at all, I’m just saying I don’t add something when I’m not sure if it even works like I want it to.
Here is what I am doing though, I’m sending letters and emails to the interesting characters who started this bill (bill S.J. Res. 34) in Washington. I came form a generation you fight back. Now to many of us keep turning our heads thinking someone else will do it for us. It is going to take all of us . They did it to”all” of us so why not.
Cloudeight is right, we have lost a lot of are privacy but I believe if you keep letting these laws and etc. chip away at your foundation and so shall fall your freedom one day. We are a young country according to history. I don’t have kids to explain that to later but you might. Keep turning your head and you are going to have a lot of explaining to do.
Just my personal opinion!!!
When I discuss everyone’s lack of privacy – especially on the Internet, I am looked at and talked to like I’m an old paranoid fool. And, that could be, but it is a fact that we no longer have an privacy anywhere, and especially on the Internet. The world is dedicated to the all might dollar — and power. Greed makes the world go ’round. In the end, that’s not going to help anyone. If we could all just do one simple thing – treat each other as we want to be treated – we would have a beautiful world.
I really liked your article – as I do all your articles. You have a good, level-headed approach to things. That is severely lacking in our present world. Religion/Politics/Economics — mankind created trilogy that is totally destroying mankind. Facts are facts – lies are lies. There really is no such thing as alternative facts! The news media is leading us down a destructive path with their “spin” on news. Sure wish they would just report the facts. And when someone lies — report they have lied! However, I believe those days are long gone.
Thank you for your super articles and for all the help you provide regarding computer use.
When I discuss everyone’s lack of privacy – especially on the Internet, I am looked at and talked to like I’m an old paranoid fool. And, that could be. But it is a fact that we no longer have any privacy anywhere, and especially on the Internet. The world is dedicated to the all mighty dollar — and power. Greed makes the world go ’round. In the end, that’s not going to help anyone. If we could all just do one simple thing – treat each other as we want to be treated – we would have a beautiful world.
I really liked your article – as I do all your articles. You have a good, level-headed approach to things. That is severely lacking in our present world. Religion/Politics/Economics — mankind created trilogy that is totally destroying mankind. Facts are facts – lies are lies. There really is no such thing as alternative facts! The news media is leading us down a destructive path with their “spin” on news. Sure wish they would just report the facts. And when someone lies — report they have lied! However, I believe those days are long gone.
Thank you for your super articles and for all the help you provide regarding computer use.