I have often been asked about privacy on the internet. If you ever think that you can be anonymous, you should think again. Every connection on the internet is logged by your ISP and they will have details of the user and the time and date connected. During your session an IP (Internet Protocol) number is allocated from a pool so that you can connect to web site, chat and so on. This is also used for downloading music as well. Your identity can easily be established with no more than a few enquirys.As a general rule, you should be polite and well mannered to all persons who use the net whether by email or direct chat etc. as you would be with people you meet in everyday life. Net users have the same feelings and basic needs as the everyday people because they are the everyday people.
If you upset the wrong person on the net you may find yourself a victime just in the same way this happens in real life. My simple advice is to tread carefully and make sure that you know what anyone who uses your computer is doing. This is your right and your duty if the users are minors.
If you ever recieve threatening emails or chats do not answer them. If they keep up, change your email address and abandon the one that recieves the problem mail. Consider alerting the police if the matter seems particularly bad as there are experienced task forces to deal with all kinds of threats. In and extreme case you may need to close all your internet accounts and open a new account and keep it unknown except to close friends.
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Rob Tait has been involved with computers for a long time. The company he worked for was an early adopter of technology and Rob was keen to be involved. Eventually he was assisting the sysops with the day to day hardware maintainence of the mainframe and terminal system. He still recalls the enginering section fighting tooth and nail to get the first real desktop PC’s. The first commonly used PC’s were DEC and later clone XT’s with a whopping 10MHz turbo CPU. It all grew from there with daily ditherings that continued into a private business started in 1995. Its been a wild ride and shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. Rob now lives in Emu Park, a small seaside townnship not far from Yeppoon and Rockhampton. Located on the Queensland Keppel Bay it is a truly beautiful postcard scenerey place. Kind of like living in paradise all year. Currently Rob nd Pam are attempting to be as green as possible. Solar grid connect and a new diesel powered car are their way to use less fossil fuel. Rob has dabbled with a veggie garden but so far its a pretty hopeless effort. He intends to get ready for another go soon when the cold weather eases off.Robs hobbies include photography and he has an embarrasingly huge collection of LED torches and lighting. Pam reckons a green energy shop should be next venture.This might happen when Pam packs up her chalk. ![]()
