We live in a world that is filled with digital connections
We have assistants, devices and, apps that help us connect with the people around us. We can connect with our friends, family members, and colleagues with a single click, and we do it all the time. But what about the people we don’t know?
In the age of social media, it’s easy to forget about protecting our privacy. The internet is full of strangers—people who have no idea who you are, or what your interests are. And yet, these strangers can end up connecting with you in ways that are entirely unexpected.
For example: When you connect your computer or phone to a WiFi network, it stores that information in its memory so that it can connect again easily the next time. If the WiFi network is not secured with a password, then anyone who knows the name of the network (i.e., all of us) can access it and potentially do things like steal data or share viruses with other users on the network, so now they have the ability to match your personal information (an online identity) with your phone’s MAC address (a physical identity).
How does this happen? And why does it matter?
It matters because as humans we tend to seek out connections
we like being around people who understand us or relate to us or share our interests. And while these accidental digital connections might not lead anywhere significant (you’ll probably never meet the person who made that restaurant recommendation), they can still make us feel good about ourselves and give us something to talk about later on down the road when we run into them again!
It’s not just about security. It’s also about privacy.
Good news is though, the sort of accidental connections we talked about here probably aren’t things most people need to worry about. Possibly. Which means, these kinds of high-concept security worries are generally the domain of techies who have way too much free time to think of security exploits.
So what can you do? Here are some tips:
- Location services should always be off unless you’re using them! Leaving them on at all times is like inviting strangers into your home without knocking first—and asking them if they want anything while they’re there (like your identity). Turn off those location services as soon as possible!
- Always use a VPN when you’re on public WiFi. This prevents anyone who might be connected to the same network as you from seeing what you’re doing.
- Don’t click on links that are suspicious or look like they’re from a scammer, even if they claim to be from someone you know.
- Always use an encrypted messaging app (like Signal) when talking to friends and family, so no one can see what you’re saying.
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Volservers Solutions is a trusted digital consultancy and IT services provider in Malaysia with the expertise, experience and enthusiasm in Software (Web and Mobile Apps) Development, Managed IT and Cybersecurity services, helping your brand to thrive in the digital age with ease and confidence.