Look for privacy policies on Web sites:

Web sites can collect a lot of information about your visit—what computer you use, what type of hardware and software you have, what Web sites you have visited. Web sites that ask you to provide even a small amount of personal information can tie the data you provide to information it gathers about your habits as you browse the Web.

When you go to a Web site, look for a privacy policy. Privacy policies can provide information about the way in which the site collects, shares and protects your personal information. Privacy policies may contain complicated language and be rather difficult to understand, but they are worth reading. For more information, see How To Read A Privacy Policy.

If you visit a Web site that has no privacy policy, write and tell the company that you are a user of their site, that your privacy is important to you and that you would like them to post a policy.

While privacy policies are not the only answer to online privacy risks, the efforts on the part of companies to post them should be encouraged.