The Biggest Myths of Online Privacy
Growing up, I trusted everything — as most children do. Inevitably, this trickled into my trust of computers and the Internet. “What a great way to connect with people!”, a younger version of me believed. And this idea gripped me, stuck with me. Like many others I was thankful and in awe of technological advancements. I wasn’t worried.
Despite warnings and advertisements, I wasn’t concerned with who had access to my information. To me, it seemed to be the stuff made up by conspiracy theorists. The ability to hack and monitor someone’s information wasn’t fathomable to me, nor was it really public knowledge at the time. My false sense of security stemmed from my interaction with mainstream media and their portrayal of hacking — this idea that only big corporations or the government could have the power, that only the government had access, and that they only used our information to protect and to serve us. Today, this is one of the many myths Internet users have come to believe.
In 2013, Snowden exposed evidence that brought U.S. spying activities to light. Suddenly, we were aware of hundreds of other breaches that compromised millions of records and data. People started to worry.
MYTH: Government Access Only
Governments and greedy corporations have trickled down to the bottom of the food chain. Now, any hacker with a computer and the willpower can find us and invade our privacy. Hackers are always happy to take advantage of opportunities others created as short cuts.
You might be thinking: what do I have to hide? At first, the cost to our conveniences and access to the world does not seem unreasonable. But there is a price, and that price is our privacy. Although the price is often more, it is never less. Apple CEO, Tim Cook highlighted this when he said that there is no such thing as a “backdoor” for good people alone while talking about the American government’s desire for backdoors to encryption. This issue of course gaining much more traction in the wake of Apple refusing to unlock the iPhone 5 from the San Bernardino shootings late last year.
MYTH: Bigger Corporations Can be Trusted
Another largely believed myth is that bigger corporations can be trusted. However, Google, Amazon, and GoDaddy are now the biggest malware servers on the web. These three reputable sites, beloved by many, are not often seen as dangers that we need to protect ourselves against. The recent attacks on Home Depot, eBay, and Target, illustrated by Bloomberg News, show an increase in attacks on retail and merchant data.
MYTH: Hackers Are Only Interested in Your Money
This leads to two other myths: (1) hackers only hack for money, and (2) your info isn’t valuable. Some hackers don’t even need or want a reason to hack your accounts; their only motivation is maliciousness. Further, stealing your identity is far more valuable than your secret pinterest board or access to your Starbucks account. With easily accessible information, someone can now have access to your bank account, transfer balances, apply for loans, and make purchases. Recovering from identity theft can take years as one attempts to regain their privacy and diminish any damage made to their credit score.
MYTH: Only Computers Are at Risk of Being Hacked
Phones are increasingly becoming more and more vulnerable. With the Feds cracking down on Apple the future isn’t looking good. Suddenly, paying with your phone for that double latté doesn’t seem like a good idea. Phone surveillance is quickly being justified to the general public as a means to an end, and thanks to our good friend Snowden, the revelation of “PRISM” only hits this myth harder. PRISM can be best depicted as your ex coming over to pick up their favorite sweater, but secretly looking for your latest Netflix and chill hook up. They “trust you,” but just have to make sure you’re as miserable as they are.
Smartphones are now as, if not more, convenient to use as computers. The ability to store everything from passwords to credit card info, and make purchases with mobile friendly shops such as Amazon and Dote leaves this technology quite vulnerable.
MYTH: People Don’t Care About Privacy
The last myth we’ll cover is that people don’t care about their privacy. In a free society, you should not have to explain yourself or your actions to your ex–err–the government every single time you click on a website. You don’t need an entity to tell you you’re a criminal — especially if you’re lounging all day watching Netflix and cat videos. And you’re right, to a certain extent. No one cares that your YouTube playlist consists of Taylor Swift parody videos. But your information is valuable. Your identity is exposed. When you understand the risks, you can take steps to protect yourself. Install a reputable anti-virus and anti-spyware program on your computer so you can continue your online activities safely.
Realizing these myths doesn’t mean you have to give up your conveniences, nor does it require that you sell all your possessions and move into the woods (although we wouldn’t blame you if you did). It does, however, beg for some due diligence. Sure, it might be faster to auto-save your info, and it might be easier to be oblivious. And we may never be completely safe from theft in any form, whether facing cyber criminals or pickpockets. But we can take steps to minimize threats to our online privacy.
Thinking, “now I’m worried”? No need. Think, “now I’m taking action”.
