The first two installments of this series (TNPC #4.12 & #4.13) covered the information your Web browser identifies about you and how Internet advertising agencies use "cookies" to track your online activities. In this installment we'll discuss email messages.
Many people worry about entering their credit card information on a Web site but don't think a thing about sending personal details in an email to another person. If you have a need to send email with sensitive or personal data I recommend you encrypt that email before you send it.
Sending an email is the physical equivalent of sending a postcard. Your message goes from you to the recipient, but anyone handling the postcard can easily read the message you are sending. Just as you wouldn't think of sending sensitive personal information via a postcard, you should consider encrypting personal information before sending it via email.
[more...]
