Understanding the Risks of Webcam Surveillance
The new study by Kaspersky ‘Excitement, Superstition and great Insecurity – How global Consumers engage with the Digital World’ discloses controversial views among users regarding the protection of their personal information. For instance, 50% of respondents in the UAE consider covering the webcam of their digital devices maintains privacy. At the same time, 44% trust internet incognito modes to safeguard their online activities. These numbers reflect that it still can be a challenge to distinguish what is secure and private and what’s not.
The Limitations of Incognito Mode for Online Privacy
Despite decades of using digital devices and acknowledging cybersecurity as a real and critical concern, distinguishing between what is secure and what is not can be still difficult. Kaspersky’s latest survey shows users can be contradictory in their digital habits and attitudes towards digital privacy
The Dangers of Sharing Personal Information Online
Fifty percent of people in the UAE believe covering their device’s webcam effectively protects their privacy. This method only temporarily prevents visual surveillance, and it does not neutralize the built-in microphone or stop images from being intercepted when users turn on their cameras. Conversely, more than half of the respondents (56%) play online mini-games and take tests for fun, sending their personal details to unreliable sources to access these games. They then post their results on social media, involving their friends in this careless data-sharing cycle.
Concerns About Voice Assistants and Privacy
Almost 52% express concern that voice assistants might be constantly listening and gathering personal information. In response, a third of respondents (35%) resort to switching their devices to airplane mode during important private conversations.
Best Practices for Protecting Your Digital Privacy
At the same time, 44% of users mistakenly believe activating incognito mode makes them entirely invisible online as it doesn’t guarantee absolute privacy. In this mode, the browser is not saving the history of visiting websites, cookies, download history and authorization data which is not equal to complete anonymity. Additionally, a surprising 33% are willing to click on unfamiliar links in messengers, potentially compromising their security.
How to Strengthen Your Online Security
Kaspersky’s Web-Content Analyst, Anna Larkina, explains: “Our research underscores the significance of a well-informed approach to cybersecurity and digital privacy. To ensure safety and protection, it’s essential to maintain a critical mindset, relying solely on verified sources and facts. This entails disregarding unproven techniques and myths. Furthermore, implementing a comprehensive security solution that offers robust protection against a diverse range of threats and risks can prove invaluable.”
To protect against various cyberthreats, Kaspersky experts recommend following the below tips:
- Pay attention to privacy settings in social networks and on popular platforms.
- Use strong and unique passwords for all your accounts (at least 12 characters with letters in different case, numbers and special characters), store them in password managers.
- In those services that allow it, set up two-factor authorization.
- Download applications only from official stores and periodically check which programs are installed on the device.
- Avoid following suspicious links in emails, instant messages, or social networks, even if they come from friends.
- Carefully check the name of the site in the address bar before entering your personal or payment data on it.
- Do not believe the myths and constantly improve your digital literacy, and in order not to worry about the safety of your data, install a reliable security solution on all your gadgets, including mobile devices.
The full Kaspersky report ‘Excitement, Superstition and great Insecurity – How global Consumers engage with the Digital World’ is available via this link.
