Switchfast Blog: The Future of IT
Hackers, Wiretaps and Malware: Digital Security and You
Tuesday, September 28, 2010 by Bryan Anderson
Your windows are locked. The doors are dead-bolted and
your security systems are set. You sleep easy knowing you are
well guarded against physical danger. But how secure are your
phone and computer, which contain so much of your personal digital
information? Digital security can be overlooked and tossed
aside despite the very real consequences. Digital technology
is constantly evolving, as are the ways criminals try to access
your information.
For all technology users, viruses and threats are nothing new to
panic about. Read articles on how to best protect privacy on
the internet and avoid viruses. Protective software and
encrypted messages on your phone and email are often provided to
users without even requesting it. More than likely, the
average user is safe as long as personal information is withheld
from suspicious websites and emails.
But things are always changing in the digital world. There
are engineers developing malware that can attack industrial
computer systems from across the globe. Complicating matters,
the U.S. Government is also pressing for new legislation allowing
them better access to wiretap digital communication devices.
Staying aware of current issues such as these will help you make
informed decisions on what technology to invest in for you and your
business.
Law enforcement and national security officials are working on
getting legislation passed that would allow easier means of
wiretapping digital communications. Increasingly, security
officials feel as though they are "in the dark" as more and more
criminals and terrorists have converted to using digital
communications. Digital communications are much more
difficult to wiretap, especially with encrypted communications and
peer-to-peer communications software like Skype. The proposed
legislation would demand software and computer engineers to write
code that would allow easier access for wiretapping, including a
way to collect and unscramble the encrypted messages. Check this
recent New York Times article for
more information.
Even if you are not concerned about Big Brother, it's easy to
see why the proposed legislation has brought considerable criticism
from the technological community. Many believe if systems are built
to allow the government to collect and unscramble encrypted
messages, it would make people's personal information more
accessible to hackers and malicious code writers. Many also
fear the legislation could add another hurdle to technological
innovation and cause current successful technological designs to be
vulnerable.
Whether or not such legislation is effective, measures need to
be made to protect our digital interests. Our physical
security is increasingly managed by technological means, with
everything from military bases to nuclear power plants operated by
network-connected computers. As technology and malware
continue to grow in sophistication, staying aware and alert may
help you and your company stay protected. If you are
uncertain of your digital security, contact an IT professional for
an assessment.
Until next time -
Bryan Anderson
Switchfast Technologies
Chicago IT Support &
Consulting
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Consulting
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