The rapid progress in technology often amazes many. While we celebrate innovations, at times, we find some of them intimidating as well. We often encounter incidents of nefarious elements using new technology to target unsuspecting users, and this threat only increases.
Thus, we must monitor every new trend in technology and gauge how it can be used.
As finding our way through the new digital world emerges as a difficult challenge, we are learning to cope with technological innovations we never thought were possible.
The stakes are high as virtual reality, AI, and advanced IoT gadgets find ways into our lives. If we are to overcome this challenge, we must closely monitor the use of these spooky new intrusive technologies. Read on to learn how to cope with the challenges of emerging eerie tech realities.
They Can Hack Your Car
The fact that hackers could gain access to the controls of your car is frightening. Since these days cars come with internet and Bluetooth, they are as vulnerable to hacking as any regular computer is. However, while computer hacks steal or corrupt data, a smart car hack could severely threaten peoples’ physical safety.
Researchers have conclusively shown that by hacking a car, remote control can be gained over the steering and the car’s acceleration, there’s always a lurking possibility of criminals taking advantage of this someday.
Your Smart Home Is Watching You
It’s a dream for many to own a home with cutting-edge technology that caters to every need of theirs. As it becomes increasingly possible to do so, we must be in the know of the dangers it poses.
The digital appliances that your smart home has are connected to the internet, and they keep collecting data about your daily habits that are very personal to you. Moreover, you can’t stop your ISP from selling the data it collects from the many devices. Of course, whether ISPs can share or sell data depends on laws in your residing country.
While we have come to terms with the selling of our browsing history and other personal records to third parties, you should know that smart devices invade your privacy even more. For example, if your house has security cameras installed, you are always vulnerable to videos being shared with third parties. Your private conversations may be recorded by your smart TV, which always has its microphone on. Isn’t it scary that your smart home could be hacked, revealing when you aren’t home? Your private moments could be captured by the cameras as well.
Sites Can Sell Your DNA Code
With genetic analysis being much more accessible now, anyone can get their genome sequenced, and they wouldn’t have to empty their pockets to do so. Learning about our genetic roots excites us, but we should be aware of the consequences before sharing our DNA. A few years back, experts reported that sharing DNA data can be hazardous. The most important threat is that such databases could get hacked. However, others worried about whether service providers could sell the data they receive.
Thus, if you sign up for sites that provide DNA tests and ancestry information, read their privacy policies carefully. Ensure that the company does not get consent to sell or share your DNA data.
Your Fitbit Can Tell A lot
As technology becomes increasingly personal, devices that can glance inside our bodies and share updates on our health are now available. Devices like Fitbit are becoming more and more popular, and hence, companies can gather data about the user’s anatomy.
Making things even more spooky, these devices can caution the user of any medical emergency that may occur soon. True, these devices have helped save lives, but it’s still creepy that they can foresee such incidents.
Internet Activities Get Tracked
Another unnerving reality is that each user’s step online gets tracked or logged in one way or the other. As mentioned, Internet Service Providers might log data about their client’s activities. However, websites, advertisers, big tech, and many other companies likely do the same.
Of course, users now have more options for privacy-focused products. Thus, switching to a more modern browser could be the way to go. End-to-end encryption has also been revolutionary in helping users protect their private communications. If you wish to do the same, look for instant messaging apps that offer end-to-end encryption. The best scenario is that such protection is active by default.
You do not have to stop there. You can enhance your security and privacy by getting a VPN for Windows computers or other devices you wish to protect. A Virtual Private Network is an application that redirects traffic through remote servers. Additionally, it encrypts it, preventing various types of tracking. Since a VPN also hides your IP address, it stops IP-based tracking.
Conclusion
As technology makes rapid strides and discoveries occur, we need to be increasingly mindful of what we use. Devices exist that can spy on us and reveal our daily activities. Criminal elements may gain control over what we are using. Extremely sensitive personal data are being sold to third parties. It’s a scary situation indeed, and we need to watch our steps. Do remain cautious.