Most people don't take their exposure on the Internet seriously enough. Online Privacy refers to the protection of data that is shared via the WWW (World Wide Web). Everyone knows that technology companies collect this data, but there are still some misconceptions that need to be discovered and understood.
In today's MenosFios Office we bring you 5 myths so you don't let yourself be fooled.
1. Nobody cares what you do online
Thinking that no one wants to know what we do online is completely wrong. Everything you do on the Internet is important. The search terms you use, the web pages you visit, and the choices you make all play a role in what you are exposed to.
It's probably happened to you several times: you mention a product or an upcoming event to a friend, and then see an ad related to it later in the day.
This doesn't necessarily mean that social media outlets like Facebook are listening to your conversations and showing ads based on what you say – they collect so much data about you that they have no need to do so, even if they could.
Based on what they know about you, tech giants' algorithms cannot predict your next steps, but actually influence and manipulate your behavior. In fact, their data is so valuable to them that it is at the heart of their business strategies. So yes, everyone cares about what you do online.
2. Security and Privacy are the same thing
When someone describes a product or service as secure and encrypted, most people assume that this also implies that the same product or service is private. But in reality, this is not the case. Security is not at all the same as privacy.
For example, Google's Gmail is perfectly safe. It has never suffered a serious breach, and it protects users with a solid and secure encryption protocol called Transport Layer Security (TLS). But it is far from private. Google collects all kinds of data about you, and automatically personalizes ads based on what it knows. Basically, there are alternatives to gmail Privacy-centric for a reason.
In short, there are many online services that are secure, but far from private. And while it's true that security and privacy go hand in hand, they're definitely not the same thing.
3. Companies must respect my privacy if they say so
We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your data.
You see slogans like this all the time, right? Most of the time, these statements mean whatever the legal team that issued them wants.
If you really want to know how a given company is treating your personal data, you need to carefully read its terms of service and privacy policy. And even that is sometimes not enough, as most of these documents are difficult to read, are huge, and are full of carefully worded disclaimers that are designed to protect a company from lawsuits.
It goes without saying that few people have the time to review a 10-page privacy policy before downloading an app, but it's always a good idea to do a little research on a product or service before using it. Of course, it is also essential to understand how data privacy works and be proactive in protecting it.
4. I cannot be identified if I do not share personal information
Even those who are not very careful about their privacy online would like not to share personal information such as their address, name, phone number, or bank account details with strangers. But can you be identified if you don't share information about yourself online? Yes you can.
Virtually everyone using the Internet can be identified by matching anonymized data with publicly available information. In practice, you already have what is known as a fingerprint, or unique information about your device, system, and browser that separates you from others.
Avoiding invasive apps, using a private browser, and hiding your real IP address with a VPN can certainly help protect against fingerprinting, but it's important to keep in mind that can be identified, no matter how careful you are.
_________________________________________________________
That was the Lessfios Office of today, where we ask our readers to comment on them and to contribute with additional information they deem necessary on the same topic.
Any and all questions you would like to see answered here should be posted on the exclusive communication channel dedicated to the Menos Fios office.
We are talking about the email created for this purpose: [email protected]. This is the only reception point for the questions you send us. Use it to send us your questions, doubts or problems. Your answer will come out very soon.
