The devices we use daily are here to stay, and connection to the internet is a general fact of life. Constant digitization raises the legitimate concern that all the details of people’s lives are accessible through smart devices and the internet. So what does the future hold? Are we sacrificing our security and privacy in the name of innovation? For security to be a priority, consumers need to know how their data is protected and have the ability to make informed choices. As our tech improves, our privacy protections should also improve.
The Cost of Convenience
We have an enormous amount of information at our fingertips. Despite appearances, this incredible convenience is not free. The seamless and personalized digital experience comes at the price of entrusting your information to the services and organizations involved with collecting and processing your data.
Here are a few things to consider as you go about your digital activities:
Browsing experience: Some search engines collect specific data from your device, session, or browsing history to provide more relevant search results. For instance, when you search for a restaurant, the search engine takes your location into account so that the results you see are more helpful. This feature tailors your experience to fit your interests and patterns, and uses certain permissions, information, and your online activity to do so.
Personal preferences: Your consumer choices are often used by streaming services, shopping sites, and social media to show you more of what you seem to like. By choosing to watch certain videos, put certain items in your cart, or follow certain people, you are telling these services what you do and do not like.
Email signups: Whether it is a newsletter, sweepstakes, download, special access, or anything else offered for “free,” it is not actually free if it requires your email address. Only give your email address and other contact information to sites you trust.
Saved passwords: If someone were to have access your device, would they be able to log into sites you use? If you have saved your passwords in your browser, then yes. The time you save logging in is probably not worth those accounts being exposed if your device is lost or stolen.
Weak passwords: A weak password is a much bigger problem than a saved password. Weak passwords can be easily compromised, especially in brute force attacks. The passwords for your accounts, devices, and Wi-Fi should all be complex and unique.
Excessive or intrusive permissions: No matter how useful an app might be, it is usually a red flag if it requires access to more information than it needs to function. The use of biometric data (such as a fingerprint or face scan) may seem like a secure way to unlock a device. However, biometric information is more sensitive and personal than a passcode, so this type of authentication is more of a convenience than a truly safe alternative.
Smart home network: Having all the smart devices in your home connected might be convenient, but it also means the data being communicated across the network may be vulnerable if the network is compromised.
These things are not inherently dangerous, especially if you are careful about what data you share and store, and you make sure the services are trustworthy. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide if the convenience being offered is worth the potential risks.
Social Connection Discretion
We naturally want to share our lives, interests, hobbies, and milestones with friends, and there are plenty of ways to do so in an online setting. When communicating with others, we should consider the security of the digital channels we are using. There are several reasons to think twice about what, how, and where we share.
Social media: To connect with others and share our lives, we provide information that we assume is only available to our friends and followers. This may not always be the case, so check your privacy settings in social media accounts to ensure you are protected. Even if your own account is 100% secure, however, you do not know if the account of one of your friends has been compromised. If this happens, the hacker can also view all the information on your profile that is accessible to that friend.
Messaging services: People often use messaging services through social media and treat it like a texting service. This can be dangerous if the social media app does not have end-to-end encryption for its messages. Sometimes people within the social media company have access to data conveyed through messages, which is concerning for users’ privacy.
Remote collaboration: Digital collaboration has been growing throughout the business world. In the context of remote work, real-time collaboration options are essential. Communication tools such as video chat and email are often used to convey confidential information. Businesses must be extremely cautious about which tools they use and have protections in place to safeguard sensitive data.
Moving Forward
For now, cybersecurity still seems to be on the outskirts of public understanding. Innovation is the norm, and cybersecurity will continue to grow in importance and recognition, so we should be optimistic about the future of technology.
The current deficit between innovation and consumer protection presents an opportunity. Businesses can set themselves apart and take responsibility for protecting the private data of customers and employees. As awareness grows, cybersecurity will become more of a demand than a luxury, and businesses will be held accountable for their privacy protections and security measures. Until privacy is built in to our digital systems and technology, consumers will choose businesses that value data security. In addition to establishing security policies and software solutions, businesses can also train employees in cybersecurity best practices, and make data protection a part of everyday operations.
DriveStrike provides effective device and data security for individuals, businesses, healthcare providers, government agencies, and everyone in between. With DriveStrike, you can manage all your devices from one secure central console. Locate devices using the most granular location data available. Remotely Lock devices to prevent unauthorized access. For the best protection against data breaches, Remote Wipe lost, stolen, or otherwise compromised devices.
DriveStrike is available for all major platforms and operating systems. Sign up for a free trial to start protecting your devices and data today. Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions about data protection, DriveStrike, or cybersecurity in general. Your security is our priority.
Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart.