5 Keys Snowden can Teach You About Mobile Device Security
The 21st century has been an era of digital communication. As the world gets closer by each day, the network has made our data susceptible to exposure. The well-known contractor turned whistleblower Edward Snowden recognized this. He recognized the heavy investments of his client NSA to access citizens’ private communications. To counter this, he exposed his discovery with proof to the media before fleeing in 2013.
The famous whistleblower has extensively warned users against various software programs used by NSA and CSI to monitor their activities at their ease. Stating that Mr. Snowden has caused a major blow to national security and its future sustenance, he has been a wanted fugitive ever since.
It becomes necessary for us as individuals to be responsible for our own privacy. Safe cyber hygiene should be practised to stay safe against surveillance by spying organizations. There are several cyber practices to follow against these cyber threats. Discussed below are some of these as guided by Snowden.
Encrypt Your Mobile Device
The network that you browse through could lead to exposure of your data. When you connect to an unencrypted network such as Public WiFi, malicious organizations could easily access your data packets. It could be a major threat to your privacy and could result in the loss of sensitive data and login credentials. To avoid such instances, the use of an iPhone VPN should be the key. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) protects your privacy by creating an alternate private tunnel secured with an encrypted path. This creates a secure pathway for your data packets to transmit. It hides your IP address from your ISP or prying eyes of any organization, thus protecting your privacy.
Add Bowser Plug-Ins for Anonymity
The shopping websites that you browse on and the articles you browse through your browser collect data. It helps these platforms provide a customized experience to you by suggesting relevant items. Although it may ease your shopping once in a while, it isn’t worth sacrificing your privacy. The spying governmental organizations could easily observe your activity as well. To avoid this, browser plug-ins are a great alternative to keep your privacy intact. They prevent the detection of your location or identity. Further, you should also activate the do-not-track option in the settings tab of browsers such as Chrome.
Keep Your Softwares Updated
The easiest way to access a device is by fining a loophole in its security. When you use an older version of any software, your system stands vulnerable to malware that could steal your system data. To avoid theft of your sensitive data, updating your software programs regularly is the key to safeguarding your data. These upgrades consist of patches that secure the software from any loophole in its programming. A timely update of software programs could keep your privacy secure. The automatic update option should be switched On to avoid delays in updates.
Create Strong, Authentic Passwords
A major reason for data breaches that occur today is weak, repetitive passwords. The malicious organizations could easily access weak passwords by stealing your digital footprints. Having your nickname, date of birth as passwords come under the category of weak passwords. To avoid exposing your privacy due to password break-ins, having strong, authentic passwords is the key. You could also use password managing applications to keep a record of your passwords. These applications also provide a variety of suggestions of strong passwords that you could use for distinct accounts. It is necessary to remember that having a similar password for all your accounts is an unsafe cyber hygiene practice. Always keep different & strong passwords for all your accounts.
Download Softwares from Reliable Sources
The market is full of software programs that promise higher speed or better features. However, only the officially recognized application must be preferred. The unofficial software programs are usually configured to carry out data breaches. Do not get lured away by attractive offers from third-party applications. They may cost you your privacy and lead to the loss of sensitive, private data. These software programs are usually weakly secured, making them susceptible to access by malicious groups. To avoid such data breaches, always download your software from recognized platforms and verified programmers. These programs are safe against malicious groups and equipped with better security measures.
Conclusion
As the world advances in need of better features in mobile phones, data security has become an essential factor. To safeguard against cyber threats posed by the malicious organization spying for data and monitoring daily activities, following safe cyber hygiene becomes vital. Having a secure network connection with a VPN and creating strong passwords are some of the basic steps that must be followed. Further, staying aware of the malicious software programs that are easily vulnerable to data breaches should be uninstalled immediately. Data privacy is a responsibility that has to be given proper attention.