Are Your Devices Leaking More Information Than You Think?
Being aware of how important protecting personal data is on the rise. So not many people are willing to hand over their most sensitive information. And yet, our smartphones, laptops, and PCs frequently reveal such information in surprising ways.
How exactly does this happen, and what can you do to prevent it? Here’s what you need to know.
Background App Tracking
People tend to assume closing an app means that it stops all activity. In reality, many apps continue to send information in the background or become active periodically to sync with their home servers.
Depending on the permissions you granted, an app might transfer location data, usage patterns, and unique device identifiers. It’s also common for them to share information with third parties, like advertising partners. They do this to better serve you with targeted ads. Interestingly, your distinct usage patterns and your device’s unique hardware fingerprint are enough, even while you’re not actively logged in.
How to avoid: Carefully review permissions when installing new apps, especially if these don’t seem to line up with the app’s claimed features. Similarly, disable background activity if there’s no logical reason for an app to need it. Keep invasive app activity from piling up by regularly deleting apps you don’t use.
Hidden File Metadata
Even users who regularly work with photos or documents may not realize the extent of information such files contain. An otherwise nondescript photo can include GPS coordinates along with detailed information on the camera and settings used.
More concerningly, a sensitive document’s metadata might reveal the sender’s name, company information, or comments that a plain text version wouldn’t.
How to avoid: Consciously remove photo metadata and convert documents to PDFs to strip them of hidden, potentially compromising information.
Unsecured Connections
Public Wi-Fi has become ubiquitous, so people assume it’s automatically safe. Even though the web has adopted the HTTPS standard, attackers still find ways of circumventing defenses and obtaining either account access or sensitive information.
They may set up a fake Wi-Fi hotspot that looks identical to a legitimate one you’d use in a café or library. They may then redirect your traffic to fake login pages or phishing websites designed to steal your credentials. Alternatively, they may hijack an active session and gain access to the associated account without knowing or needing your login credentials.
How to avoid: Keep browsing on public Wi-Fi to general websites that don’t expose your accounts. Even then, using a trustworthy VPN for iPhone or other device will encrypt your connection and prevent attackers from monitoring what you do or intercepting any data you exchange.
Smart Home Device Leaks
IoT devices like lightbulbs and doorbell cameras are still treated primarily as gadgets and appliances. Users forget that they also interact with each other, and many require a constant online connection to work properly. Moreover, it’s common to need an account to control them, which may ask for your personal and payment information, location data, etc.
Such devices are known for weak protection and infrequent updates, which makes them easy to hack into. Once compromised, attackers can use them to obtain username and password information, access live camera feeds, and even talk to you.
How to avoid: You’ll want to segment your home network so that IoT devices stay separate from smartphones and computers. It’s also crucial for each account tied to such devices to have a unique username and password, stored in a reliable password manager. That way, compromising one smart home account won’t automatically endanger more important ones.
Infostealer Malware
Modern malware generally falls into one of two categories. Ransomware is designed to disable crucial system functions or lock up files and immediately attracts attention, so victims can give in to its creator’s demands.
Conversely, infostealer malware is stealthy and can linger on a device if not detected. Its purpose is to collect and steal any data of worth – credit card info, account and crypto wallet credentials, cookies, sensitive documents, and more. This information is then quietly exfiltrated, leaving users none the wiser.
How to avoid: Devices tend to get infected with malware when you visit disreputable websites or share files via unofficial torrents and other sketchy means. Avoiding such behavior, running regular checks through the best antivirus, and ensuring that related software is always up to date significantly reduces the danger. If you’re looking to save money, using NordVPN antivirus coupon code is an easy way to get reliable protection at a lower cost.
Cloud Synchronization
Backing up files to the cloud has become common, so much so that you may forget that a cloud copy exists even after you delete a file locally. While convenient for sharing and accessibility, this makes sensitive files susceptible to cloud storage provider breaches.
How to avoid: Regularly review cloud synchronization settings, including backup frequency and connected devices. Remember to also audit cloud storage and delete files from it that are no longer in use.
