July 7, 2016 – My recent interview with International Cybersecurity Expert & Cryptographer, Bruce Schneier unlocked many questions that many Americans are asking. Is my data secure? Who’s watching? Is there really free speech? Well, after discussing these very issues with Bruce Schneier, the answer is–it depends.
In today’s modern digital world, everything that anyone says, at almost any time is captured somewhere. Whether it be a harmless email, or a friendly chat, there are a chain of events put in place that can monitor and even store these harmless messages, and even archive them for posterity. From this standpoint–we are all being monitored. However, the question is viewership. Who is really concerned about what we say to our family, our friends or coworkers? Again it depends. If you discuss a controversial issue at work–your employer may very well be monitoring. If you discuss the same issue at home-probably no one. But, if you decide to scour controversial websites that could make you a ‘person of interest’ and a potential target of law enforcement interest–then all bets are off.
In our discussion we focused on the level of intrusion and the burgeoning market of the Internet of Things–aka IoT. The IoT is a new market for surveillance by law enforcement and perhaps unscrupulous hackers who want to invade your privacy. From hacking webcams in a bedroom, to listening on the microphone on your TV–these things are not beyond the impossible–in fact they are very real. In fact, we know know that hackers can even break into the most secure Apple products–the Apple iPhone. With this as a backdrop, the questions becomes, how do we stay safe? How do we protect our privacy, our corporate secrets, and our children’s anonymity? The questions are difficult, the answers are varied. The one thing that we all can do–is to take prudent measures.
Don’t put your children’s name on the internet, don’t send questionable or defamatory emails from work, and don’t surf controversial websites from anywhere–lest you will be targeted as a person of interest. Unfortunately, freedom has a price. To be free and to speak one’s mind, may still be available for most Americans–but the price may just be too high. Remember free speech is ‘conditional’ not absolute. No one can yell fire in a crowded theater or promote hate speech without garnering the ire of people, and the eyebrow raise of law enforcement.
So next time you want to surf that questionable website, or send a controversial message at work–think twice. Freedom has its benefits–but the burdens are there as well. You can say what you want–but someone somewhere may be watching you. Ask Edward Snowden–he’ll tell you–the government is ALWAYS watching–and the hackers are always trying!