Privacy and data security ... the tales of the OTT
Protecting privacy and data security has become a top priority.
Huge damage can be caused by a hacker attack or by an “uncontrolled” data leak, then shared on the network. In this article on Smart Webzine some striking cases are described with a clear conclusion : “…remember that piracy is permanent and it saves only systems which are fully protected. Place your sensitive information on a very secure server. Encrypt your data and as a precaution, use a server located on your national territory.”
Now the real problem is : choose a server that is encrypted and secure… but this, it would save us from third party attacks!
Who would protect us from protracted spying as a server owner?!
Whereas most managers have respect for the privacy of their customers, there are some others though, who do not value privacy as an inalienable right, in the strict sense of the word.
Spy on data generated on and from mobile phones and tablets, it is customary established. Spying on the contents of e-mail addresses "hosted" by large managers, was in doubt until recently (… .For the most naive, in good faith !!!)…
But now, even Microsoft ADMITS to be able to spy on the contents of Outlook addresses, ex Hotmail ( source article in the Corriere Delle Comunicazioni ).
The element that catches the eye is a sentence that gives us the measure of how defenseless we are by using the "generous and free" services of the OTT, Microsoft says: “We can access your information, including the content of communications … to protect the rights or property of Microsoft”.
Attention, reference is made to the rights of Microsoft ( sacrosanct, if stepped on by someone who is committing a crime ), but also to the property ... and here the problem arises!
Since the user uploads data, uses the platform and shares content, it is no longer the sole owner!
You accept at the same time that you press "enter", to become OWNERS of all data together with the owner of the servers… .and that's it!
To spy, according to commercial rules that provide for sharing of ownership of data, it is no longer a crime of THEFT, but of infringement of the Privacy.
Which makes the OTTs smile.
But the communications that some of them are trying to make to reassure the public are even more hilarious like Google encrypting messages on GMAIL ... Ok put a lock on the door of our mailbox so that strangers cannot enter, but… .if you then enter, the owner of the building and spy on everything, in any case?!?!? ( source article on EDP Line )
In light of this, Neelie Kroes also stated that there are billions of people who do NOT trust the Internet ( source article on BitMat ).
Snoweden ( the Datagate mole ) continues to state that all attempts to encrypt or build European "clouds" are doomed to fail because the NSA will still be able to penetrate cryptographic systems ... hallucinating!!! ( source article on Key4biz ). And this speaks volumes not only about software backdoors, but above all on the hardware ones ...
In the meantime in France they are not idle: the consumer association UFC has sued Facebook and soon other OTTs for the violation of privacy and abuse of user data.( source article in the Corriere delle Comunicazioni ).
We must be careful NOT to identify the incorrect way of acting of OTTs and even local operators, with the benevolent potential and opportunities of the network.
Like all tools, can be well used, or abused.
We just need to raise awareness and regain control of what we want to remain ours alone, and what must be "fed to the network without control".
A first concrete step will be to go back to using the real PERSONAL COMPUTER to have control of all the data we really care about and that are part of our intimacy and private life..
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