PRISM, a secret program from US government tracks the personal information of users around the world raising questions on the privacy of data on the web. Visit http://blogs.totaldefense.com/securityblog.aspx for cloud-based endpoint security solutions for home and businesses.

1. How much our network information is really safe?
Almost all of us are walking around with a smartphone in our pocket, keep things on the "cloud" and
charge credit cards online. The implication is clear - all our information, including our money is at risk.
Most of us prefer to ignore it, but there is also another way.
Public and media storm surrounding reports that the U.S. government used its secret PRISM program
designed to keep track of personal information of users around the world raises critical questions for
any user and really touches us all. Beyond the ethical questions concerning this matter, the free access
to servers of the major technology giants - Google, Apple, Facebook and Microsoft overwhelms the risks
relating to the exposure of the personal data and raises the question of how our sensitive information is
indeed truly protected.
More than 2 billion people are connected to the Internet. It is expected that by 2015 the number will
reach to 2.7 billion people (40% of the world population) and that the number of mobile Internet users
including mobile phones and tablet devices will exceed the number of users using PC or a wired
connection.
The significance of these facts is clear: Our lives are increasingly conducted in cyberspace and we
routinely use “cloud” technologies to convey information about our occupation, work, personal
relationships, preferences, shopping and everything else. Most often, we tend not to bother ourselves
about the risks involved, but these are now more than ever. Our great dependence on the virtual arena
turns any and all information theft from an alien invasion into our database to severe privacy that
could cause us physical, economic and psychological harm.
Consider your smartphone. Unlike conventional computers with installed anti-virus, the various smart
phones can be penetrated easily and sensitive data and the most intimate information may be
accessible to all incomers, including e-mails, text, contact information and even payment methods
stored in memory or application downloaded from the bank or the insurance company. Smartphone
manufacturers are probably aware of the risk, but so far no significant measures were taken against it.
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2. Another example is the car you drive. Thanks to computerized engines installed in vehicles today, we
enjoy greater comfort while driving and not spend all thought that the virtual system that controls the
engine can be hacked. The consequences of poor information security can be devastating to the car,
from a disruption to the navigation systems and cause of traffic accidents to a loophole that could
allow takeover of the propulsion and braking systems and let someone else from the outside drive us.
This also applies to our house. As we install more sophisticated locking systems, and as our dependence
on electronic security based on computers is increased, it also increases the danger of thieves,
terrorists or government agency that may be able to crack the security code and disarm the system we
have built to protect our home and us.
Possible security breaches and leakage of personal information in cyberspace are therefore many and
varied. When the underlying problem is the lack of awareness of the problem scope and ways to
address it. Therefore, the first phase should open our eyes and recognize that the systems of the 21st
century brought endless opportunities with them but also risks equally abundant.
As consumers become more aware of the risk, the greater will be the demand for providing effectively
protected information security products. Accordingly, the manufacturers will adapt themselves to
market realities, ensuring that no one will follow our information and data and the ability to break
such systems will be minimal as possible. Effective protection of information will save us heartache and
unnecessary costs and protect us better during this virtual era.
About TotalDefense:
Total Defense(@Total_Defense) is a global leader in malware detection and anti-crimeware solutions.
We offer a broad portfolio of leading security products for the consumer market used by over four
million consumers worldwide. Our solutions also include the industry’s first complete cloud security
platform, providing fully integrated endpoint, web and email security through a single Web-based
management console with a single set of enforceable security policies
Total Defense is a former business of CA Technologies, one of the largest software companies in the
world, and has operations in New York, California, Europe, Israel and Asia.
Visit http://www.totaldefense.com/ for web, cloud & mobile security solutions for home users and
businesses.
Copyright © 2013 TotalDefense, Inc. | All rights reserved www.totaldefense.com
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