For almost a decade, internet privacy has become one of the top concerns for most of the developed world. Everyone knows about virtual private networks, and the damage things like identity theft can do to all of us.
So, how come internet companies and corporations like Google and Facebook still manage to make billions off our data?
The truth is, until our lack of cybersecurity impacts our life or livelihood directly, we usually opt to forgo any defenses.
But, there are solutions.
Premium VPN providers offer multi-platform access and severely reduced latency on all devices. By using Le VPN on both our mobile and stationary devices, we can keep the VPN on at all times and be protected without any changes in the speed of your internet traffic.
Forgoing Internet Privacy for Exposure
The old Jewish proverb goes: ‘May you be rich and not famous.’
And there is a good reason for this saying. As long as you have something, someone wants to take it from you. In the internet society, if you ‘flex’ with something you have, you are just creating those who wish to take it from you.
Free time and credibility are worth more than you think and are much harder to come by. While it may seem to you that you got your identity and personal privacy as a gift, you have worked on being who you are your entire life.
Endangering your time and security for internet popularity is probably an unneeded risk. With 4.4 million advertisement posts on Instagram, most not compliant with FTC regulation on privacy policy, entering this market as a hobby can be a costly investment.
Forgoing any privacy law and exposing yourself online can be devastating. Both your digital and physical security, as well as your property, can be attacked by cybercriminals if you are not careful about your internet privacy.
What do the Numbers Say?
Despite the increasing need for security and privacy online, less than 25% of all internet users have ever used a VPN. Additionally, reasons for what is VPN used for in these cases usually aren’t cybersecurity.
By report from PCmag, even in China, only 31% of users have some VPN installed on their devices. In Europe and North America, this number falls to around 20%.
This means that most of the personal information that we, as internet users, create is left unfiltered and open for collection. This is used quite heavily by corporations.
Every year, on average, Google has made roughly $10 from using your data to sell ad space and other services. Google’s privacy policies are made to protect you from others, but not from the company itself.
Unprotected, our browser information is floating on the internet, and hackers and snoopers can find it and use it to steal your identity.
In 2017, there were 1579 data breaches in the US alone, exposing almost 180 million records. Slightly less than half of the population of the US had their Social Security number revealed in these leaks. Nearly $905M was lost due to fraud because of identity theft.
While there is no reliable data yet, it is expected for that number to reach 3000 breaches in 2019.
Convenience vs. Security
The more we value accessibility, or don’t have enough information about the risks, the more we are likely to fall victim to fraud and identity theft. This is why more than 20% of all victims are children and seniors.
As we use online services for multiple reasons every day, we are giving that first thread to various malicious entities on the internet. Once a hacker has that thread, they can even try to trick you directly.
By merely knowing my IP location, a hacker can figure out my physical location, home state, as well as many of the services I use. Matching this information, you can create a mosaic of what someone’s identity is, and use that knowledge for nefarious purposes.
Daily Tasks
By giving Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant your demands every day, you will be sending your needs to the internet. You may have already assumed that Apple, Amazon, and Google will use this data to tailor ads for you.
But, if that connection is without any privacy protections, a hacker can interrupt the flow of information and easily collect your daily personal information.
Location Data
Using Google maps, or some similar tool is quite useful. But, by enabling geo-location, you have allowed yourself to be followed via satellite.
These types of surveillance can create a mass of privacy issues. If anyone can hack into your phone, they will know your every step.
Communication Information
Chats and instant messages can be a significant hole in online privacy, like the recent backdoors and security vulnerabilities found in WhatsApp.
Because we are using platforms where our friends are, rather than those that are safe, our data can be intercepted by hacking the server. Chats without privacy settings can be as public as forums or chat rooms.
E-banking Access
We often disable VPN connections and wave privacy concerns when using e-banking apps. Banks and online services like PayPal might withhold our funds for up to 24 hours if we are accessing from an unknown location.
But, if we are not secure when accessing our money, we can endanger our passwords and provide hackers with instant access to all of our accounts.
Always On VPN, Everywhere
To protect our privacy rights, it is essential to use a VPN. But, to equalize convenience, we need something that will be always on, on all devices.
Thankfully, premium VPN providers like Le VPN have apps that can work on all platforms, all the time. This means that you will experience no lag when browsing.
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Written by Vuk Mujović @VukMujovic
Vuk Mujović is the founder of MacTíre Consulting, an analyst, data management expert, and a long-term writer on all things business & tech. He authored blogs, articles, and opinion pieces aimed to help both companies and individuals achieve growth without compromising their security. Vuk is a regular guest author to Le VPN Blog since January 2018, where he gives his expert opinion on the topics related to cybersecurity, privacy, online freedom, and personal data protection. He also often shares his tips and best practices in relation to internet security and digital safety of private individuals and small businesses, including some additional applications of using a VPN service.