The IP address is a crucial component of the internet experience, even if the average consumer never actually notices it. There are instances when the IP address can reveal private user information, which means that proxy IP systems can be found in the security features of many internet users concerned about their security. While the data that can be readily obtained from the IP address isn't enough to push most people into anonymous surfing, it has actually become a cause of concern for many governing bodies.
In 2008, privacy regulators and legislators in the European Union managed to get a ruling that stated that the IP address should be considered private information, similar to a social security number or home address. This development is significant for security enthusiasts who hide IP trails or use proxy IP addresses. The fact that this is considered private information allows it to fall under a number of legal protections. The EU government and security departments have, since that ruling, forced companies such as Google to comply with the new laws. While this has not eliminated the need to mask IP addresses, a number of security enthusiasts have embraced it as a good first step. The most immediate impact of the ruling is how search engines can gather data from users within the EU's jurisdiction.
The issue behind the ruling, for the EU legislators, was one of privacy and anonymity. Google argued that keeping track of IP information was necessary for them to ensure more accurate results - searching "football" in New York would yield different results than doing the same in London, for example. The EU legislation countered that there is a huge possibility that people who did not use a proxy IP program or website could effectively be traced and identified. The primary concern was to ensure complete and irreversible anonymity for the average consumer, as a reaction to the increasing trend of identity theft.
Another sector that is finally realizing the need for an anonymizer or proxy IP system is the corporate sector. As more companies shift to systems such as voice-over-IP protocols and other communication systems that rely on the internet, IP address security is becoming more of a concern. It is not impossible to shut down international operations if the IP address isn't secure and the hacker has the right tools and enough time on his hands. This has actually opened up a market for security systems and measures for Windows-based machines, which are the most vulnerable to these sorts of attacks. In a related vein, users of open source systems like Linux sometimes have skilled programmers making their own additions to the source code to improve IP security.
Proxy IP services are steadily becoming more known, and their role in ensuring secure internet use is becoming more prominent. They are far less common in use than most security analysts would like, but that may change as more organizations and governing bodies recognize the need to regard IP addresses as sensitive, private information.
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น