We live in a technology-dominated age where you can make friends, make purchases, work, and interact with people from halfway across the world. This is especially made possible by the internet, one of the pieces of technology that have really made way much easier and convenient. Nonetheless, anything with multiple benefits doesn’t come without its fair share of drawbacks. As you might have already guessed, one of the major challenges in modern times is the security of personal privacy. When conducting digital transactions and activities, you share a lot of private information that can be used against you in one way or the other by people with ill intentions. What’s worse, the threat to personal information privacy tends to be increasing as the world becomes more technologically advanced.
In this piece, we take a brief look at some of the ways personal privacy is shrinking in modern times.
Personal Information
Personal information that is shared online is normally stored in databases. These databases hold names, social security numbers, credit card numbers, medical histories, family histories, transaction details, and social security numbers, among other sensitive information. Such information is made available when you transact or share information with someone, especially to business organizations. While most legitimate business organizations have a privacy policy that promises to protect your personal information, you can never be too sure. Hackers and cybercriminals have numerous ways of gaining access to such information, especially if they have a reason to target you. Including banks, many business organizations have also fallen victim to fraud and cyber-attacks simply because a hacker was smart enough to breach their security protocol and gain access to private information over the past few years.
This then begs the question, how do you protect your personal information online? The folks from https://vpngorilla.com/en/best-vpn-for-canada/ say that one of the ways you can enhance your online privacy is by using a virtual private network for your online activities. A VPN ensures that data exchanges across networks are encrypted, making it extremely difficult for hackers to track you or access your private information. Combined with measures such as having different passwords for different online accounts, securing your devices, and disabling Wi-Fi when not in use, you can minimize the chances of falling prey to cybercriminals.
Cookies and Software
In modern times, online shopping is all the rage. It’s convenient, easy, fast, and doesn’t require much effort. However, many online shopping sites monitor consumer behavior without their consent using cookies. By allowing cookies when you visit a website, the cookies provide information about the pages you’ve visited, items you’ve checked, date, time, and even passwords! While most of them do so to use this information in their marketing strategies, this information may also fall into the wrong hands easily. You’re left to wonder, is there any privacy on these internet streets?
Electronic Surveillance
As much as electronic surveillance is a great solution for enhancing security, it becomes unethical or even illegal when used to infringe on an individual’s personal privacy. Well, these days, many employers use tracking software to monitor their employees’ whereabouts and electronic activity. Many workplaces also have CCTV and hidden spy cameras installed in secret places that you can never even suspect. We’ve also seen in the movies; how someone can easily plant a bug (listening device) in your office so they can easily stay updated on what you’re up to and what you say in their absence. The deadening truth is that these gadgets might be right there in front of you but you can’t even tell. Your personal privacy can easily be breached without your knowledge. Sometimes, you just want to do your own stuff without anybody knowing. It does not have to be illegal.
Identity Theft and Impersonation
In this case, somebody gets your personal details, such as your social security number, bank account details, and any other information that will be needed to perform a task. They will then use your details to borrow money, run debts, or even make purchases. We’ve also heard of instances where hackers withdrew money from the accounts of unsuspecting individuals and tracking them leads to a dead end. The sad truth is that as long as personal information is shared online, there will be unending cases of such incidences. This is why it’s highly important to ensure you’re dealing with a legitimate entity that values your security and privacy when transacting or sharing sensitive personal information online.
There’s no denying it – personal privacy has taken a diminishing route in modern times. With cybercriminals increasingly advancing their wit and unscrupulous tactics, our personal privacy is always at risk. The best you can do is stay alert and adopt ways to enhance your personal privacy, especially online.
