It is a well-known and often unfortunate fact that advances in technology happen much more rapidly than changes in our world’s legal systems. Every week is marked by a multitude of software updates and, more often than not, the unveiling of a new device, app, or social media platform. By contrast, relevant laws that protect online identity and privacy or safeguard Internet users from electronic fraud are mired in an outdated legislative process.
Generally, protective standards that do become law are already inadequate and antiquated, often because those that make the law are out-of-touch with the latest technological advances. Taking advantage of this disconnect, unscrupulous people have flooded the Internet with false identities masquerading as friends, colleagues, and business entities. The purpose of this façade is to protect the identity of these cyber-criminals while they perpetrate fraud: extorting information or even money from the unsuspecting public. It’s a growing problem and one that people in business are becoming increasingly concerned with.
How to combat the threat
To combat this burgeoning threat, technology has become largely self-policing. Internet companies, search engines, and digital app creators enact de facto policy changes and create safeguards to protect both themselves and consumers wishing to use their services without harassment or threat to their identity, privacy, and financial security. These policies are reviewed and updated regularly to help police their own sites, but some sites perform this better than others.
Social Media platforms such as LinkedIn have exhaustive online guidelines and tools available to subscribers, but it is still up to the individual to implement these best practices. Historically this type of ‘professional’ social media network has been more vulnerable to predators simply because of the public perception of the site’s intended purpose. Because the social media site is job related, users are more willing to share personal and even proprietary or classified information, especially with another user whose profile appears highly credentialed. Now LinkedIn has tools to easily flag potentially fraudulent users or activity. By filling out LinkedIn’s ‘Notice of False Profile’ form, users can file official legal claims, which fall under the penalty of perjury.
Changing the online culture
Another important tactic in battling falsified and potentially malicious identities is to change the online culture to one that is more aware and less tolerant of falsified profiles. Soul Digital is an Australian-based digital design company specialising in web design, web development and digital strategy. In addition being a leader in the field of digital development, they are also an outspoken proponent of creating a culture of meaningful online content to combat a cyber-world filled with spam, pop-ups, and other unwanted and potentially fraudulent activity.
Although specializing in a product typically referred to as “Search Engine Optimization” or SEO, Soul Digital rejects the negative and potentially detrimental activities such as keyword stuffing that have become associated with this practice. Instead these web developers create meaningful content, which optimizes the online relevance of their clients organically. This practice also helps to throw into sharp relief the fraudulent activities of Soul Digital’s competitors and imposters alike. Innovators like the creators and operators of are educating the online public and making them less accepting of unwanted or illegal Internet activity. Read more about Soul Digital’s mission to civilize the web:
Legal maneuvering will only take the online community so far in its battle with Internet fraud. Perpetrators with malicious intent will always find new ways to infiltrate legitimate web traffic. It takes a sweeping culture change, making meaningful online content of paramount importance, to bring lasting positive change to the digital world.
from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/1HeWwfr via web design pricing guide
from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1JYNxls
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