Security and Identity Theft: The Pros and Cons of Technology in Our Era

Technology refers to the total of all the knowledge and resources that we have at our disposal, which makes it possible for us to process information, manufacture tools and machines, and use materials. 

Technology is an important part of our everyday life and certainly makes life better. However, technology also has negative impacts on today’s society. Increased cyber crimes, addictions, and reduced human interactions are some of its biggest disadvantages.

In this article, we shall be looking at some of the pros and cons of technology in our era. 

Pros of Technology

The advent of technology has made life so much easier in many ways. Here are some of the biggest advantages of technology. 

• Easier, faster, and better communication between people.
• Wider access to information via the internet.
• Cost-effective production methods.
• Possibility of virtual learning and employment.
• Easier and more secure financial transactions.
• Shorter time in accomplishing tasks.

Cons of Technology

Despite all the many ways that technology makes life better, it has some major drawbacks, especially in the area of security and cyber safety. 

1. Harmful Exposure of Minors 

As technology progresses, younger and younger audiences have access to the internet. They either access the internet at home or out of home. This access is sometimes unsupervised and can lead to exposure of minors to unhealthy content. To prevent this from happening, proxy servers can be used to block access to certain sites. 

If you provide age-restricted products and content, you should seek validation processes to ensure that all your users are within the right age limits. Identity validation technologies and software can help to verify the age and identity of potential users of your product or content. This helps to protect minors. Also, by verifying the age of your customers, you demonstrate that your business can be trusted.

2. Data Breaches

Before technological advancement, businesses only stored information by writing them on paper. It was relatively easier to keep confidential company information safe. But with the advent of technology, most of our work is done and stored online. 

What this means is that anybody in any part of the world can have access to confidential information. All they need are login details and passwords. 

To prevent this from happening, companies can have sensitive files encrypted. They can also make use of Virtual Private Network (VPN) services. This provides a secure and private tunnel for your data. It also ensures that your computer’s IP address stays hidden. This makes it difficult for anyone to spy on you to have access to sensitive information. 

3. Identity Theft

The use of modern technology has made it easier for fraudsters to steal people’s identities. According to reports, identity fraud incidents increased to 45% in 2020.

Identity theft involves the stealing of personal information such as passwords, credit card details, and social security numbers. When we use the internet for transactions and applications, we input sensitive personal data. This can be accessed by anyone who can infiltrate our computer system. 

With this information, the thieves engage in fraudulent activities in the victim’s name. They collect loans, make online purchases, and even access medical records. 

To protect yourself from identity theft, make sure that your connection is secure when you use the internet. Avoid public WiFi that has no password protection. If you want to give an extra layer of your identity protection then you should use the dedicated identity validation services. These dedicated services help you keep your devices protected by using gateway servers when you use the internet. 

4. Lack of Privacy

With improvements in technology, our private lives are accessible to anyone. It is now easier to find out personal information about someone. Strangers can access your location, and tell what information you are looking up online or what items you’re buying. 

Business transactions can be monitored, and even confidential messages from your doctor. To prevent this from happening, use a gateway server to protect your IP address. This makes it difficult for anyone to tell where internet queries are coming from. This way, you can send and receive information anonymously.

5. Dishonest Business Dealings 

Before the advent of technology, business transactions were mostly carried out face-to-face. You either received payment for goods and services instantly or you knew where and how to get it. Technology has now made it possible to transact business with people we have never met. This increases the chances of getting caught up in fraudulent transactions.

One common occurrence is failure to make payment for goods delivered, and failure to deliver goods after payments have been made. To protect yourself from such scams, always confirm the identity and authenticity of individuals and brands that you transact business with. Make sure that they have a verifiable physical or online presence.  

6. Credit Card Fraud

With an increase in technology, online transactions only require you to input credit card details to make a purchase. This way, you can use a credit card without physically possessing it. This has increased the occurrence of credit card fraud. 

Fraudsters can hack into your system and obtain credit card details, which they then use in making transactions. Devices called skimmers are also used to illegally obtain credit card details. The machine captures information from your card’s magnetic strip. The fraudsters then encode this information into a counterfeited card. 

Fraudsters can also apply for a new credit card using their victim’s name and personal identification details. To prevent credit card fraud, make sure that all online transactions are performed with secure connections. When using your card at a physical location, make sure that the vendor can be trusted. 

Conclusion

Technology has become a part of our everyday processes. It is even beginning to replace many human functions. This has led to learning and teaching becoming more effective, business transactions faster, and health better. 

While we continually embrace the blessings of technology, we must constantly be on guard. We must be proactive in protecting ourselves and those who are vulnerable to its harmful effects. We must remain disciplined in using the tools and materials that technology provides. So that in the end, the good outweighs the bad.