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We unfortunately live in the age of surveillance, when agencies like the NSAand FBI push and cross the boundaries of unconstitutional actions. This means that everybody needs to take steps to protect their data. ~ Daniel Jennings
Obviously, there is no such thing as total protection, and a determined individual or organization with a lot of time and money on their hands can break any security if they want.
But you can make your data and communications so hard to access on the Internet that it will deter the bad guys. The harder it is to access your information, the more likely hackers, spies and other cyber pests will go elsewhere.
Protect Your Data
The best way to deter these interlopers is by putting up several layers of protection, the cyber equivalent of a multi-layered defense. Here are some Internet defenses that work:
1. Encryption.Here’s a quote from somebody who knows a lot about cyber security and how to get around it: ex-NSA hacker Edward Snowden: “Encryption works. Properly implemented, crypto systems are on one of the few things you can rely upon.”
Encryptionsimply means scrambling information so it’s hard to decode. Governments have been doing it for well over a century and the good news is that there are encryption software programs anybody can take advantage of. They include:
*.
Tor Browserswhich let users send encrypted data on PCs and laptops, Android devicesor iPhones.
*.
Red Phonewhich lets you send encrypted voice communications between two Android phones. Both users have to deploy the app to get the protection.
*.
Text Securewhich lets you send encrypted text communications over Android phones.
*.PGP or Pretty Good Privacy — a commercial product available from a company called Symantec. It isn’t perfect but it will protect you from amateur hackers and most criminals. There are also some free open-sourced variations of this product available including one for Windows.
*.
There are also encrypted mail services such as Hushmail.comand Silent Circle. The problem is that these organizations can be forced to divulge data to the FBI or NSA through court orders. A similar service called Lavabitwas forced to shut down because it refused to give the FBI access to Edward Snowden’s email account.
*.
Experts believe that the best method is to use two or three encrypted services. A system called STARTLSis hard to track. All the information on services that use these is encrypted.
*.Some more alternatives are coming. The governments of nations like Germany and Brazil are talking about setting up encrypted email services for their citizens, and in the future it might be possible for Americans to take advantage of those. There are also foreign email systems such as NEOMAILBOXwhich is based in neutral Switzerland. The Swiss have a long history of protecting privacy including that of American citizens.
Obviously, there is no such thing as total protection, and a determined individual or organization with a lot of time and money on their hands can break any security if they want.
But you can make your data and communications so hard to access on the Internet that it will deter the bad guys. The harder it is to access your information, the more likely hackers, spies and other cyber pests will go elsewhere.
Protect Your Data
The best way to deter these interlopers is by putting up several layers of protection, the cyber equivalent of a multi-layered defense. Here are some Internet defenses that work:
1. Encryption.Here’s a quote from somebody who knows a lot about cyber security and how to get around it: ex-NSA hacker Edward Snowden: “Encryption works. Properly implemented, crypto systems are on one of the few things you can rely upon.”
Encryptionsimply means scrambling information so it’s hard to decode. Governments have been doing it for well over a century and the good news is that there are encryption software programs anybody can take advantage of. They include:
*.
Tor Browserswhich let users send encrypted data on PCs and laptops, Android devicesor iPhones.
*.
Red Phonewhich lets you send encrypted voice communications between two Android phones. Both users have to deploy the app to get the protection.
*.
Text Securewhich lets you send encrypted text communications over Android phones.
*.PGP or Pretty Good Privacy — a commercial product available from a company called Symantec. It isn’t perfect but it will protect you from amateur hackers and most criminals. There are also some free open-sourced variations of this product available including one for Windows.
*.
There are also encrypted mail services such as Hushmail.comand Silent Circle. The problem is that these organizations can be forced to divulge data to the FBI or NSA through court orders. A similar service called Lavabitwas forced to shut down because it refused to give the FBI access to Edward Snowden’s email account.
*.
Experts believe that the best method is to use two or three encrypted services. A system called STARTLSis hard to track. All the information on services that use these is encrypted.
*.Some more alternatives are coming. The governments of nations like Germany and Brazil are talking about setting up encrypted email services for their citizens, and in the future it might be possible for Americans to take advantage of those. There are also foreign email systems such as NEOMAILBOXwhich is based in neutral Switzerland. The Swiss have a long history of protecting privacy including that of American citizens.