compromised privacy

… is the new norm.

OK, so privacy on the internet is more or less nonexistent. Nothing new there, and no improvements to be expected. Too many permanent backdoors are already built into the channels we are given to communicate through, and those in power evidently want more backdoors installed for “improved security”.

What is a little disturbing in all this, is that so many web users willingly expose and compromise themselves by releasing sensitive data online day in and day out, as if they are totally ignorant about how insecure the internet really is.

It doesn't make much of a difference what side those who are acquiring access to our private data without our permission are on. All violations of our privacy, security and basic human rights, are wrong.

That some intentionally expose real, or more often “lightly revised”, versions of their private lives in public arenas, isn't a problem. Hopefully they know what they are doing and can take care of themselves.

All those who try to compete in one of the “dum, dummer and dummest” shows of which there are so many both on and off line, are mostly harmless and at best worth a laugh. On the internet you can be anything you want.
It's strange that so many choose to be stupid.

Not all who surf the web seem to have much of an idea of what they're doing or where they are doing it though, and, apart from being potentially embarrassing for these individuals, some of the carelessness shown can be right out dangerous.

We all like to spread a little fun and laughter around at times, but not everything that looks like harmless fun now will be quite as funny to see again in a few years time. May be worthwile to think about what messages we really are about to send, before posting.

Worst case scenarios are that one little seemingly innocent and unimportant bit of information can ruin lives if it falls into the wrong hands, and people should at least be aware of that simple fact before, and while, they do anything anywhere online.

correlating info.

One bit collected here and one bit collected there, numbers get crunched, and soon a more or less complete profile for a person or entity is put together. No lack of computing power and eavesdropping procedures on the internet, so if a method can be dreamt up it can and will be executed.

That most profiles are created by businesses tracking and collecting info about us and our surfing-habits that help them target us with the “right” advertisements, should be well known. Not too difficult to minimize the nuisance, but keeping your data safe is harder.

Advertising is not all such profiling can be, or is, used for though. Various forms for identity-theft comes to mind, and that is just the tip of the iceberg. A whole nother ballgame so better stay sharp.

State controlled eavesdropping and profiling fall into all classes imaginable, and then some. Not much one can do to avoid them since they do everything technically and programmatically possible to stay in control in cyberspace.

The paranoid is never entirely mistaken. (Sigmund Freud) It can actually pay off to be a little bit paranoid when using any and all internet connected devices, and simply expect the entire chain to be compromised. It most likely is to a certain degree, and even if it isn't it certainly won't hurt to be restrictive with what data that gets handled on it, just to be on the safe side.

Truly paranoid people most likely won't go online at all, but for the rest of us staying offline for long is hardly an option nowadays. However, a little common sense and online sobriety will go a long way when using social media and other public channels to stay in touch with others who hopefully are just as sober and careful as we are.

Some seemingly harmless souls indiscriminately spread information about others, with no bad intents and usually without thinking twice about what they are doing. Not all of what comes out is harmless though.

Then there are those who intentionally try to harm others by spreading both sensitive personal info and lies about them. Not much one can do about those lowlives, apart from limiting their access to sensitive data they can misuse for whatever sleazy agenda they may have.

privacy matters.

I discriminate heavily when it comes to use of public channels, and there are many apps and internet services I simply won't use because I do not trust them to take my privacy concerns serious and safeguard my data.

The apps, channels and services I do use, are under constant evaluation. I have little tolerance for potential hiccups and built-in flaws that compromise my rights to privacyor hamper my work, and what I don't like or find any need for gets thrown out – deleted.

Although I do not trust a single being or entity in the entire world to look after my very personal interests as well as I can do myself, I see no reason to go totally overboard and turn paranoid. Such a reaction would only cause unnecessary stress on my part, and perhaps also make me even more introvert than I already am (shudder).
A relaxed attitude and a good dose of pragmatism, suits me much better.

In the end it comes down to a single phrase: “mutual respect”.

If all parties show genuine respect, solutions will eventually be found to any problem. Not a very likely scenario, but one should always keep on dreaming of a better world.

If respect is absent or expected to only go one way, everything will eventually become an uncontrollable mess. That's a very likely scenario the way things evolve, and we can only hope and pray that common sense and justice prevail.

Nothing will make me let my guard down and/or give up on any of my rights related to individual freedom, security and privacy. These matters matter to me, and I don't want to see them written off as “unavoidable collateral damage”.
And, in case you wonder: my ancestral ballast ensures the necessary steadiness and shallow draft in these treacherous waters, both on and off line. Now, let's beach that boat…*

sincerely georg; sign

Hageland 11.jul.2016
26.jun.2017

side notes.

you'll never walk alone…

We cannot move around in the public spheres, on the internet or elsewhere, without being seen by and bump into the good, the bad and the ugly. We do however not have to open all doors, accept all invitations, and indiscriminately let everyone trample all over our private spheres.
We have the undisputable right to discriminate in our private spheres, and may as well apply some of the available options and methods to our advantage.

It is mainly our mindsets that protect our privacy as we travel up and down the electronic highways. No pieces of software and hardware can do anything but assist the conscious minds in their efforts to stay safe.

Security solutions like ESET certainly can keep our devices reasonable safe from viruses and other potential leak-points, as long as we use them properly and don't open backdoors ourselves.

Anonymity solutions like the Tor Project are not bad, and can help in many situations. Not even they can prevent carelessness and human stupidity from causing serious problems though.

upholding rights…

So, why should we law-abiding citizens have to do anything to uphold our rights?
Well, what do you think we will be left with if we don't actively uphold the rights we have gained through generations of fights and negotiations. Don't we need any of our hard-won rights anymore?

When you hear someone say, “if you're not doing anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about”. What they're actually saying is, “if I'm not doing anything wrong, I don't need rights”.
— Ben Swann

This is most definitely not a good time to give away our rights, because if we do we will have to go through all the fights and negotiations all over again in the not too distant future to get them back. That is going to be a lot harder to achieve, than to stand up for the rights we have now.

think it over…

The wise man has no firm principles. He adapts to others.
— Lao Tzu

When men are pure, laws are useless; when men are corrupt, laws are broken.
— Benjamin Disraeli

Never in the history of man has so many had so little worth saying and so many places to say it.
— Georg

Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
— Mark Twain

You can't stay in your corner of the forrest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.
— Winnie the Pooh

Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something.
— Plato

compromised security…

Try to apply the essence of the seemingly unrelated quotes above to life on the internet and overall security everywhere these days. It should become pretty obvious that laws, rules and regulations, as well as methodology, have to evolve quickly to catch up with reality.
Sometimes things are allowed to evolve too quickly, and under flawed agendas.

facts:

Cyberspace has opened up lots of new communication channels for us, and these are also ideal for sharing info related to shady activities. Crime-fighting entities want unlimited access to those channels, and to all methods that may be used to keep shady communication secure and private. As a result no channels and methods are secure and private for any of us.

The really shady people and entities are at least as smart and well equipped as any of the crime-fighting ones, so there's a veritable war going on in cyberspace. Also near impossible to differentiate between the various warring entities and their agendas.
Ever wondered who get caught in the crossfire?

We – the ordinary people – should not be the ones who have to give up our hard-won rights at every evolutionary turn of our increasingly automated and undemocratically controlled world, as without our rights in place and honored, all the world's security concerns become totally meaningless to all of us.

I don't like being caged.

selected links…

Note: additional info… “beach that boat…”:
Running their shallow-going longships directly onto beaches, is how Norsemen in Viking performed surprise attacks from the sea and rivers.