Endangered Privacy

When was the last time you worried about data security on the Internet? Let me guess — when you were providing your card number while purchasing something. The truth is that your privacy got compromised long before that. Once you go to a website, your browser starts sending hundreds of inquiries to multiple servers. It is done to gain statistics and to receive the necessary information for targeted advertising. The web knows your location, preferences, age, probable marital status and much more. Of course, you have a Facebook/Twitter/Google+ account, and that ship sailed a long time ago, but the invasion doesn’t stop just yet. Modern technologies bring lots of new possibilities for a more comfortable life. Your house is connected to the IoT, you have a smart TV with a webcam and a mic, home security system takes care of your safety… All those things can be easily hacked by the third parties including governmental agencies who are “just doing their best to protect and serve”. The saddest part is that in most cases this invasion is absolutely legal (when was the last time you read the “terms and conditions” while downloading a new app?). Even when you’re sure that nobody’s watching, there’s always a human factor. Remember — when you’re giving the information to a company, you’re giving it to thousands of its employees. Are you sure that they are good people with honest promptings? Even if they are the most reliable individuals in the world, there’s always a chance of making a mistake. One error in the code and your cloud data is open to hackers.