How safe are our devices?

mreccentric

mreccentric

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I was talking to a customer care agent to resolve an issue with my internet device. And, the customer care (who was part of tech team) was able to access my device which was connected to the internet, and was able to resolve the issue over the air. We all know how the ISP access our routers to configure it through the internet. But, had you ever imagined anything like that most of the devices which you use at your homes and offices, which are connected always to the internet can be accessed remotely by any proprietary product's agent.

How safe are our smart devices which we use? How safe are our data and passwords which we use in it? Where is our Privacy?
 
You are late to the party.

I remember a couple of decades ago the CEO of SUN Microsystems, later acquired by Oracle, Scott McNealy famously proclaimed "Privacy is a myth".

He obviously knew something back then most people don't realise even today.
 
@mreccentric In short, if you want privacy and data security? Use stand alone products and disconnect from the 'net :) Or, use a secure PC that is only used for surfing and reading. No emails etc. But in this age few things work without the internet. Can you? It's so integral to our lives now. When I got my 1st mobile back in '99 I could not dream of a day I'd be carrying a device that encompasses a PC and a communication device in the palm of my hand. And back in those days, heck even 128 Kbps ISDN internet access was 'fast' and in the mid to late '90s, 14.4K/28.8K dial up modems were state of the art. :D.

Smart devices are NOT without privacy loopholes even Apple that so called flag bearer of privacy and security monitors your devices to a certain degree as do MS, Google (Android/Chrome). If you want conveniences brought by modern tech be ready to compromise on privacy.

As for security, that's a different topic from privacy there are sites that demonstrate how to harden your PC against attacks among other things. And of course use a flavour of Linux instead of Windows.
 
Yes. I have to think of switching off my devices when not in use, but, we Indians have now been used to keeping them ON all the time like the Americans do. @Chip What do you mean be standalone products?

I'm unsure if the open source Linux provides better privacy than a proprietary Windows. But, yes, lot of the computers, as i am using now, comes with Windows preinstalled. Need to learn, or morely. get used to using Ubuntu or Mac in the future. How can a PC just be used for surfing, without providing credentials for anything (Now that all the websites need you to login to provide interest based information).

The problem again is that we have started getting used to everything that will be online, though there were times we played music or movie on cassette.
 
@mreccentric stand alone means an app or software that does not require access to the internet to perform any of its functions or for activation. Everything is on the local machine.

There are few offline password managers like Keepass for e.g free opensource software. And of course back in the days it was stuff like Windows 3.xx/NT MSO etc that were installed from floppies (ugh!)...well, you get the drift.
 
@dexter22 It was Firestick to be precise.

@Chip I agree with this. Using a standalone product is so much more suitable. But, with dependability on it has become sleeky these days. Think of listening to AIR for songs than Spotify! Sounds old, but well, my internet usage would drastically reduce.
 
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