Privacy Special Report: Stealth Surfing

Pop Quiz: How Private Are You Online?

Feel lucky, punk? Well, maybe you shouldn't. Take our quiz to see whether you're an easy mark. Tally your points to see how hot things are for you on the Paranoid Thermometer.

Have you signed up at a free membership site?

If yes, collect 2 paranoia points. If you didn't check the privacy policy or read the text next to each check box, collect 10 more points. Many sites want your address, phone number, and income range--and share this information with other companies.

Have you used a credit card online?

If yes, assign yourself 2 points. The real danger comes from doing business with sites that don't store your credit card info behind a hack-proof firewall.

Have you used a debit card online?

If yes, 10 points. Though debit card services limit losses through theft, your checking account can be cleaned out while the service investigates fraudulent debits.

Have you sent a credit card number or other personal data via e-mail?

If yes, 10 points. E-mail is intrinsically less secure than a transaction conducted at an e-commerce site. And you never can tell who's going to forward your e-mails.

Do you use your real name and e-mail address when posting messages?

If yes, collect 10 points. Spam companies are notorious for harvesting visitors' addresses from Usenet and other forums.

Have you checked all the white-pages sites for your name?

If yes, 10 points. If no, 10 points. Online directory services cross-reference your home data with that of neighbors and local businesses, and--calling all stalkers--provide links to maps.

Have you installed Web apps that know when you're online?

If yes, 3 points. Like the Pentium III processor, Web applets may carry a unique serial number that can be used to identify a computer.

Do you open e-mail file attachments?

If yes, 5 points. Harmless though the attachment seems, it could contain Trojan-horse software that exposes your PC to attack from the Internet.

Do you use chat rooms?

If yes, 3 points. Log in to chat or IRC sites, and "script kiddies" can employ a program to gather your AOL screen ID and steal your password.

Do you use Windows networking or file-sharing software on your online PC?

If yes, 10 points. Windows 9x networking opens up the NetBIOS port to anyone who wants to access your PC. Hackers can probe systems for open ports and gain read/write access to your hard disk.

How to Score