Chapter 14. Securing Your Privacy Using Other Digital Devices

In previous chapters, we have discussed technologies that focus on the Internet because therein lies the major source of threat to your personal privacy. However, as other technologies expand and grow that take advantage of the Internet and allow access to your personal data through other methods, you will be faced with new forms of attacks. Personal digital assistants, wireless technologies, and new protocols for sharing data have the potential to compromise your personal life the same as a hacker on the Internet can.

The use of digital devices over the past several years has grown tremendously. Businesspeople as well as students carry personal digital assistants (PDAs). People pulling out their PDAs at meetings to check schedules, make notes, or to beam (transmit) each other their contact information are common sights these days. Are PDAs secure? As we have stated earlier, the introduction of new technology also brings with it security and privacy risks. Devices such as PDAs are no exception. In this chapter, we take a look at several popular PDAs currently on the market. We examine their security risks and look at how to secure some of the devices.

The growth of wireless communications, in which data travels through the air as radio waves instead of through cables, has also been tremendous. Many schools and businesses now have wireless networks in place to help with the end user's connectivity and productivity. Wireless networking for the home user is also becoming more prevalent. Manufacturers are now producing and pricing wireless equipment so that it is attractive to the home user. As data travels through the air instead of through wires, additional risks and exposures to privacy and security are created. This chapter looks at wireless networks and devices and shows you some basic steps to take to keep your data secure and private.