Firstly, what is a privacy policy? In simple terms it tells you how a website is using the data they collect about you and who has access to it.

Most large websites will have a link to a privacy policy but as global law on this improves we should start seeing more of these as standard.

So now you know what a privacy policy is, but did you know that all the online giants such as Facebook, Twitter and Google are in the big business of collecting and monetising their user’s data. Even in the last few days Google has announced that it is changing and more importantly simplifying its privacy policy so that it can share data across it’s giant network more easily.

If this is news to you then you need to know that Google and many other website vendors have been collecting data on their users for years and using it to better their services, sell and target those same people with advertising. For instance when you create a Google search you are presented with a number of premium search results tailored to your criteria; and this is just one way Google is using that data.
But what does that mean to us, the users?

The short answer here is that Google is unifying the data collection and usage between its many free services, so in theory it won’t be collecting any more data than before, it will just use it to be more efficient between those services, which should mean better more effective services from Google that benefit us all.

The problem here though is that if you really don’t like having your data stored then the only 100% guaranteed safe option you have is to stop using Google’s array of services completely (Extreme I know!). Having said this the EU has ruled in the last week that Google’s new policy contravenes recent European legislation to protect users; so maybe things will change for the benefit of the us; either way though Google will still get some of your data.

So, Google will be collecting your data no matter how careful you are; and where there is user data there is usually advertising! I personally don’t like behavioral adverts, they are those clever little ads that know you have just been looking at holidays; and then send holiday advert to the other websites you visit, annoying yes but definitely appropriate; so I would certainly expect that with the shared data this will only become more accurate and hopefully more useful; if, a little intrusive.

I know it sounds like Google are the big bad monster trying to use your data for evil; but in my opinion we need to remember that Google allows you to search the internet with ease, receive email, store documents, socialise and navigate online for free, they are giving something to us that improves our lives and they still need to pay the bills, is it too much to ask for a little data driven advertising for totally free services? I think not, but I can certainly understand those who do!

If you still want to limit what Google do know about you then you can try and limit how much data you give, so run searches without signing into your Google account, or in your Google account preferences check the privacy settings for each service that you use until it suits you. If this still isn’t good enough then you’ll need to look for alternative that isn’t as aggressive with your data.

Navigation can be presented in many different ways, but the most effective way is the CSS list which offers the best and most simple solution.  In this post I will demonstrate the CSS menu in its most stripped back form.

Firstly, I will give the CSS  and HTML followed by a breakdown of the code.  This guide assumes that there is already an understanding of lists.

CSS

ul.menu {  list-style:none; padding:0; margin:0; }

ul.menu li a{ display:block; width: 100px; padding:10px; font: 10px Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#FFFFFF; background-color:#009933; border-bottom: 1px solid #003300; }

ul.menu li a:hover { background-color:#003300; }

HTML

<ul class=”menu”>
<li><a href=”http://nasarik.com”>home</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://nasarik.com”>portfolio</a></li>
<li><a href=”http://nasarik.com”>contact</a></li>
</ul>

In the CSS I have referenced the unordered list (ul) and given the class .menu, this is so we can reference the HTML in a simple and clean way; next we clear the natural styling of the ul with list-style:none and the removal of both padding and margin.  Now we can reference the list item (li) and the active link (a) with our own styling attributes, then simply add the hover state, in this case I have chosen a darker colour.

The HTML list is simple, create a standard unordered list, and add your class to the ul tag, this will style your menu with the CSS, it’s that simple.  This same method can be used on any list type and can be adapted to suit any style of website.

Here are a few excellent examples of CSS menus

http://www.smashingmagazine.com
http://www.cssbeauty.com/
http://logopond.com/
http://www.pixellogo.com/

Once you have mastered the simple CSS menu why not experiment with images or JQuery.