Who can deny the privileges that we have today thanks to the internet or downplay its popularity in contemporary society? The internet has radically refurbished the fabric of our society. If you had to send a letter to a loved one in the olden days, the entire process could take days, weeks or even months. Today, you can send a text to anyone, anywhere in the world almost instantaneously, with just a click of a finger.
Today, you also have the option to send instant messages over the internet as well as the option to voice or video chat, a concept that would have sounded like science-fiction to a person living in the 1900s. The internet has tremendously improved and upgraded communication and collaboration without the need for physical human contact. The internet is also an entity growing and evolving consistently and rapidly. Today you can shop from home, learn from home and even work from home. There’s a whole different universe of entertainment resources that it houses like videos, video games, music, photos, discussion forums, social media and movies, among others. You can download material and later watch it without needing an internet connection. The internet allows you to also send, receive, store and make money. Today’s limitations only seem actuated by human imagination and every day the gap between the things computers can and can’t do is decreasing.
Considering the sea of positive changes that the internet has brought into our lives, it’s no surprise that out of 7.87 billion people globally (Worldometer), 4.66 billion are active internet users (Statista). Additionally, an average active internet user spends 6 hours and 43 minutes online daily (We Are Social Global Digital Report 2020). People are constantly asking Google things. Whatever we don’t understand, a simple Google search will most likely do the trick. Apparently, Google registers about 3.5 billion search queries every day (Live Internet Stats).
The internet also has a ubiquitous presence in the business domain. We’re living today in a world where 47% of all purchases are made online (Think with Google). It’s no wonder then that 66% of companies today use online advertising to promote their goods and services (The Manifest). Also, social media, which has 3.6 billion active users around the globe (Statista), has become one of the most prominent marketing tools in the current climate.
The internet is, without a doubt, the fastest way for you to connect with the outside world, but is it the safest? In today’s digitalised world, where an enterprise is estimated to fall victim to ransomware every 11 seconds (Cybersecurity Ventures) and social media accounts are hacked relentlessly, is cyberspace a safe place for you to explore, express yourself, and use for business? With data breaches becoming so commonplace that they are considered part and parcel of the business arena, can you trust the internet with your employees’ and customers’ sensitive personal information?
Cyberspace risks that threaten your privacy and freedom
The internet is a land of opportunities for both people and criminals alike. The more its realm expands, the more opportunities there are for hackers or cybercriminals to exploit it to further their illegal ends. Every time you come online, you are vulnerable and susceptible to security risks. Indeed, most internet users couldn’t care less about what information they’re sharing to the virtual world and what harm this can bring, but sometimes the consequences can be devastating. Cyberthreats can vary significantly in degree and purpose.
Spying or Snooping: Some companies spy on you for the sole purpose of tracking your interests and promoting their products to you accordingly, which in turn to some extent also personalises and enhances your online experience, but some online tricksters can have far more sinister intentions and use this data to steal your identity and/or money.
Information Mishandling: Many of the websites you visit ask you to allow them to collect your cookies and store your personal information in order for you access to the site or services. This information is later used for various purposes. However, more often than not, the data that they store is not encrypted and can be accessed by anyone, putting you in grave danger when it comes to digital data theft.
Location Tracking: You agree to all kinds of peculiar things when you hit “accept” on terms & conditions before accessing a web service. One of the things that you agree to, most commonly, is sharing your location. Many of the sites only ask for your location to enhance and personalise your online experience, but you can’t always be sure of the entity’s intention when you are asked to disclose your location.
Privacy as a human right in the cyberworld
Human rights extend to cyberspace in the form of the right to privacy, freedom of expression and the free flow of information. Privacy in the cyberspace context would mean that an individual could use the internet without the fear of a third party collecting and using their data without their consent. However, the actual picture is the opposite of this. The moment you enter cyberspace, the illusion of online freedom is torn to pieces. An online user has a broad range of people and organisations with a hankering for their personal data. On one hand, hackers are devising new ways to steal your data. On the other, enterprises are collecting and using your data without your awareness.
Can you make cyberspace a safe space?
Our lives are deeply intertwined with technology today; from individuals to large-scale organisations, everyone depends on computers and the internet for the smooth functioning of various day-to-day operations. Freedom, to use the internet without fear, is a necessity for everyone, be it an individual or an enterprise. Fortunately, there are several security measures that an organisation or an individual can adopt to ensure cyberthreats don’t hinder their operations or progress.
VPN
A virtual private network (VPN) is one of the most successful and popular ways to protect your online privacy and hide your online activities from spies and snoopers. A VPN ensures a safe and secure connection between you and the internet. It provides you with an encrypted tunnel and encodes all the data communicated between you and the host site. With VPNs, you also get access to anonymous internet protocol (IP) addresses that can disguise your actual IP address to make your online actions virtually untraceable. A VPN also allows you to hide your geographical location to make your online existence safer.
Be cautious
According to Cybint, 95% of cybersecurity breaches are caused by human error. Just a little caution and awareness can go a long way in protecting your online presence. Phishing, the most common kind of cyberattack, relies entirely on humans voluntarily clicking or trying to access infected links or attachments. If you are careful not to dabble with suspicious-looking material online, you can significantly enhance your cyber security. Always avoid websites that don’t have a lock icon on the status bar and generally look doubtful. Be especially wary of websites that ask for unusually personal information.
Regularly update your system and security software
Today, antivirus software comes with many new and innovative security features and can provide you with a solid, sturdy and reliable wall of defence against cybercriminals. You should keep your system and antivirus software updated so that you do not miss out on any new features and security fixes. This is a must for both organisations and individuals.
Infrastructure monitoring
Infrastructure monitoring (IM) is the real-time compilation and monitoring of data generated by systems, processes and equipment involved in the IT network of an enterprise. Monitoring the IT environment via IM ensures all the security risks are looked after and minimised and that all the IT systems are managed efficiently. Infrastructure Monitoring isn’t only necessary to ensure your systems run smoothly, but it also helps to identify which areas can be improved. Many digital technology solutions companies offer managed infrastructure monitoring services to keep every component of your IT infrastructure at peak efficiency.
Conclusion
Technology has evolved tremendously over the past few years. On the one hand, it has given rise to many new ways for hackers to infiltrate IT systems. On the other, it has also birthed various advanced methods to protect your IT systems. You can leverage the latest advancements in the field of technology to provide enhanced protection to your IT assets. This will allow you to improve your own, your employees’ and your customers’ online experience through our extensive wealth of upgraded security management tools and services. At Gemraj Technologies Ltd, we’re always up to date with the latest market practices and methodologies and we will provide you with solutions that make your cyberspace as secure, safe and reliable as possible.