8 Things That May Make You Afraid To Use The Internet

1. Facebook owns the photos you put there, so if it ever gets replaced by a newer online social networking service, (like what happened to MySpace) they could turn into a stock photo database, with your photos available for use by ad designers. How would you like it if your sexy pose photo ended up on a billboard, advertising a sex shop? Oh, without your permission or any compensation to boot!

2. Hackers getting their hands on gamer logins. "Your data is safe and encrypted" they said. Even so, some of the largest, most trusted companies have failed to protect the personal information of their customers. Whether it's your password, or email address, this leads to more and more info digging, and capable bots will surely find a way to figure out how to put their hands onto your account or money. Especially if you use the same password for your bank account as you do for, say, online gaming. Services like PSN, Blizzard and Origin had an unpleasant adventure with scammers who used the emails they've acquired to send fake verification messages, to acquire more info.

3. Ransomware is the new form of a computer virus. It affects mobile phones mostly. You're browsing the web and click on a photo hosted on a fishy website. It downloads a virus that locks out your phone and encrypts the data stored. You get a message saying that they promise to send you the password to encrypt it if you send money to a certain account. Better stay on Ebaumsworld where it's safe!

4. Being anonymous online might encourage you to write something you'd otherwise wouldn't say to somebody's face. The thing is, the anonymity is often an illusion, and if you happen to get a stalker or piss off the wrong person, they can make your life miserable. Especially if your username matches your Facebook /other accounts. Often a mere google search of your username may lead to your other accounts, with additional information. There's even websites that offer bots that put together a profile of a person online, searching for more and more data based on the info you provide them.

5. If somebody who worked for Google wanted to blackmail you, they'd only need a peak at your (permanent) search history to get the proper materials for that. Google records everything you enter into its search engine.

6. The Fappening. Do I need to explain this one?

7. The most popular and largest applications and websites on the Internet are run by corporations. Even the smaller, successful new services are being bought by big companies, often for billions. Imagine if a corporation wanted to take over the country? How hard would it be? They have more information about us than the public records, or the police. They have enough resources to design and produce exclusive technology unmatched by any military force.

8. Facial recognition might be the next step towards the police state. Have you ever walked up to a camera, put your photo online, or get on Skype? The government has a database of your actions, "just in case" if it's ever necessary for them to look up your activities.