Hi Guys,
I just read another story about how three well-known VPN (Virtual Private Network) providers leaked details of nearly 21 million of their users on the Internet. The data wasn’t even hacked or stolen; it was just sitting on the Internet for anyone to find. If you are a user of SuperVPN (with 100 million+ installs on the Play Store), GeckoVPN (10 million+ installs), and CatVPN (50,000+ installs), please change your password straight away as the leaked data contained usernames and passwords. You might also want to look at a new Virtual Private Network solution.
When a person buys a VPN, they are using it because they are concerned about their privacy, and they want to hide their identity when they are online. They pick a VPN provider such as SuperVPN as they have over 100 million users, and they say they are one of the most secure VPN providers on the planet. Imagine how they will feel when they find out that SuperVPN was one of the companies that just left their most personal details on the Internet for anyone to find.
Is any information safe on the Internet, even if it is protected?
The reality is that you cannot fully trust the Internet with your private data, especially not with your innermost thoughts and ideas. If it has not already been hacked or leaked, you have to assume that it could be eventually. While we all are taking measures to protect our data, you need to start thinking about a zero-trust policy regarding the Internet and your digital footprint.
Here are a few recent examples of how users around the world have been let down by the technologies that they trusted:
- You store your files online.. the provider gets hacked, and your data gets exposed.
- You use a VPN to hide your identity.. they leak your private details.
- You use TOR Browser to access the dark web as it’s secure..TOR gets compromised, and your dark web history is exposed.
- You use GAB instead of Twitter as it promotes free speech.. they get hacked and all communications exposed.
- You share your secrets online through a secrets app.. They get hacked, and all of your secrets are exposed.
- You use an online adult website, and they get hacked and your most personal details exposed.
- You set up a dating profile on an app.. they get hacked, and all your photos and private messages are exposed. This also makes you a perfect candidate for blackmail or extortion.
In all of the above examples of data and privacy breaches, the user did not do anything wrong. They encrypted in good faith, they used a good VPN in good faith, they did everything in good faith, and the providers let them down. Equally, there are certain providers that hackers target as they contain valuable information concerning financial data or information they could use to blackmail people.
How long is information stored on the Internet?
The Internet is archived every day, which means that most of what you say and do is logged and saved forever in a kind of a time capsule. Even if you delete it, there is a good chance that it will be there forever. Every day, you hear stories of politicians and celebrities being called out for something they said 10 years ago. When it comes to data lifespan, it lasts forever online.
Zero Trust Policy
When I say a Zero Trust Policy, I mean do not share anything sensitive or private or personal on the Internet – EVER. You cannot trust it. Use the Internet for fun and discovery and even connections but do not share anything that you would not like to be broadcast to all of your family and friends. Setup a new profile, don’t use your personal details, don’t upload photos, don’t allow your location to be tracked, etc.
Incognito will always have your back. We will keep you free of spyware, continue to give you more and more great privacy tools, and keep you informed with our tips and alerts. Our privacy care team is always here to answer any questions you have. We will do our very best to keep you safe and protected, but the onus is on you to be careful about where you go and what you share. It is a jungle out there.
Thanks and talk to you soon,
Max Roberts,
Incognito Privacy Care Team.