You might be surprised to discover that advertising companies are tracking you online – and you may be shocked at what they know about you. In addition to advertisers, social media companies and the NSA may also be tracking you online.

Learn more about how to protect your privacy, whether you need to change your Facebook privacy settings, or you’d like to encrypt your emails.

Indexes / Databases

The following are part of the Upper Arlington Public Library’s premium resources. Unless you are in one of our library locations, you will need your library card number in order to access them. 

Computer Sciences – Learn about major concepts in computer science, and their impact by accessing articles from one of the UA Library’s Reference eBooks.

Computer Source – Search computer-focused magazines and academic journals to find software reviews and discussions of privacy, big data, and online tracking.

Consumer Reports – Find up to date articles on protecting your privacy online, and reviews for different technologies and software.

Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints – Privacy and online tracking are controversial issues – check out multiple perspectives before you make up your mind. Search for topics like Big Data, Identity Theft, Social Media, and Right of Privacy for a wealth of fact and opinion.

Reference Resources

These materials are available for use in the Reference Department of the Main Library. Click on the links for more location information.

Internet and Technology

• Electronic America
• Encyclopedia of Computer Science and Technology
• Internet Censorship : a Reference Handbook

Identity Theft

• 50 Ways to Protect Your Identity in a Digital Age: New Financial Threats You Need to Know and How to Avoid Them
• Identity Theft: How To Protect Your Name, Your Credit and Your Vital Information — And What to do if Someone Hijacks any of These 
• Stopping Identity Theft: 10 Easy Steps to Security
• Taking Charge: What to do if Your Identity is Stolen

Privacy

• Encyclopedia of Privacy
• Invasion of Privacy: A Reference Handbook
• Privacy Rights in the Digital Age

Journals / Magazines

Some current issues of the following magazine and journal titles are available for checking out, while in some cases older issues may be accessed at the Main Library’s Reference Department. Follow the links to the catalog or see a librarian for more information:

• Mac/Life
• Wired
• MIT Technology Review

Presentations

Click the links to watch video presentations related to online privacy.

• Consumer Reports on How ‘Smart’ Products Track Your Daily Habits
• NBC Nightly News on How Smartphones are Tracking Your Every Move

Websites

These recommended websites are chosen by a Reference Librarian as reliable sources of information on the topic of online tracking and privacy.

General Information

• American Civil Liberties Union – Internet Privacy
• ALA Choose Privacy Week
• Electronic Frontier Foundation
• Electronic Privacy Information Center – Online Guide to Practical Privacy Tools
• FTC Consumer Information – Privacy and Identity
• GCF Learn Free
• Library Freedom Project
• San Jose Public Library – Virtual Privacy Lab
• Teaching Privacy

Step-by-step Guides

• Consumer Reports – 66 Ways to Protect Your Privacy Right Now
• Chatting in Secret While We’re All Being Watched
• Email Self-Defense
• Surveillance Self-Defense
• Turn it on: Turn on 2FA

Search Starters

Get started with your research by seeing what UAPL has in its collection on subjects related to online privacy.

• Internet Privacy
• Big Data
• Data Protection
• Electronic Surveillance
• Privacy, Right of
• Online Social Networks