Cybersecurity

There’s an old saying that you can’t put toothpaste back in the tube. It simply means that some actions, once taken, can't be undone.

Sadly, many individuals believe that is true about their online privacy, and the copious amount of personal information now accessible about them online. Many organizations with hundreds or thousands of employees feel the same way – it’s too late now to turn back time and retroactively remove that content before it can be weaponized.

But that’s not true.

Data breaches and ransomware attacks are a global threat – but a recent report revealed that American organizations are a favorite target.

According to critical infrastructure security company Dragos, 44% of ransomware attacks last year targeted North American organizations. And every year, the number of breaches goes up, as does the number of victims. In January of 2023, T-Mobile announced that an unidentified malicious intruder breached its network and stole data on 37 million customers, including home addresses, phone numbers and dates of birth.

What is a weapon? One dictionary defines that term as “any implement  used to deter, threaten, inflict physical damage, harm, or kill.”

Over the course of human history weapons have evolved from rocks to clubs to knives to guns.

But in a world connected through online communication, your privacy has become the most dangerous weapon of all.

In previous blogs we’ve discussed how artificial intelligence can fake a colleague or loved one’s voice within a phishing attack designed to extort money from unsuspecting victims. But to many this still sounds like science fiction – something that may be possible technologically, but would require such planning to execute that its unlikely anyone would actually try it.

I mean, rather than go through all that trouble, why not just get a real job, and make your money honestly?

For more than a decade IronWall360 has effectively removed our clients’ personal information from the Internet. This is sometimes easier to do in states that have passed consumer privacy legislation, or have specific laws in place about safeguarding the privacy of judges, police officers and other public sector professionals.

Curious about your ancestry? Or looking for early warning signs of health issues that might be prevented? If so, you may have elected to have your DNA analyzed by a company that can provide those answers. But what happens if that company gets hacked?

At this point, even we are shocked at how often new technology is unveiled that seems designed to put others in danger.

Friends, meet PimEyes. Now, anyone can take your picture with their phone and upload it to a search engine that will help them find out exactly who you are. And that answer is delivered in seconds.

Created in Poland, you can now use PimEyes with TikTok. And of course, it’s free, because that’s how much your privacy and security are worth.

Have you used the X platform to complain about poor service at a company? If so, you may have been contacted by someone claiming to be a customer service agent – but that communication could be from a scammer.

Today’s cars are essentially computers on wheels. How you feel about that depends on how you view computers.

The California Privacy Protection Agency is not a fan. They are looking into whether all that sophisticated technology that delivers a smoother, more reliable, and more comfortable ride is also invading your privacy and collecting personal data about your location, your personal preferences, and other details about your daily life.

This month, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 362 into law.

Also known as the “Delete Act,” this bill will make it easier for Californians to request that their online personal information be deleted.