When reading 11 Illegal Things You Unknowingly Do on the Internet I narrowed down my choices to the 5 worst illegal activities listed.
1) Sharing Passwords, Addresses, or Photos of Others
This activity, to me, is the worst one listed. Though it could seem like a harmless way to get back at someone, this can be a much more serious case you would think. This could open someone up to identity fraud, and physical danger. Many people use the same password for everything, and if a hacker is able to track down their online presence, they could also gather their email or potential usernames. This could in turn allow someone to hack their accounts and learn more sensitive information to use or sell.
2) Bullying and Trolling
Cyberbullying is never okay, and that why I have put it down as the second worst cyber activity on this list. From a psychological perspective, you never know what someone is going through. A simple comment could be enough to send this person over the edge and hurt themselves, or others. As a society, we need to focus on the impact of not just cyberbullying but bullying in general.
3) Collecting Information About People Younger Than 13
The youth of our nation may be more vulnerable than ever. We live in an age where people do not hesitate to share their life story on social media, and as an adult that is fine. But in this digital age, you can find out information on nearly everyone from the convenience of your keyboard. I do believe this is a problem, and as a parent, I believe people need to warn their children at an early age about the dangers of the internet.
4) Faking Your Identity Online
Identity fraud is no joke. Though I may be a little biased having been involved in 2 major data leaks, dealing with the repercussions of someone using your identity is never fun. Whether this be having to explain that you did not open a credit card, or you did not apply for a mortgage is something that can be a hassle. The same goes for cyberfraud on the internet. Whether that be explaining to your entire following that this account is not you, to having to change each password you have, it gets annoying. It can be even worse if your friends fall for the phishing scam that will inevitably come.
5) Recording a VoIP Call Without Consent
Finally, we have reached the last cyber activity, recording someone over VoIP without their consent. The reason I put this last is because I can understand the reason for doing it in certain situations. I have been accused of harassment after using choice words in a stressful situation with a landlord of mine, so I understand the point of protecting yourself against false accusations. The problem (to me) is when your intent is malicious in nature. When you use these recordings in order to exploit an individual, I do believe it is wrong.