Out of the many prominent tech solutions available, encryption is probably one of the most vital, transformative, and important technologies available today. It has been the most ground-breaking innovation, although one that triggers strong debates.
When it comes to keeping your business operations, communications, and data secure, no cybersecurity solution can come even close to the power of the latest encryption. However, the concept of using encryption as a cybersecurity measure is still relatively unknown to many internet users, and opinions on its effectiveness are very different.
While some believe it’s the ultimate cybersecurity tool, others aren’t convinced of its efficiency. Others might think the opposite and fear strong encryption and its potential.
However, encryption can prevent data breaches and cyber criminals from getting their hands on your data. Let’s see why encryption is the ultimate cybersecurity solution in 2021.
Encryption protects personal and sensitive data
The main objective of encryption is to protect personal, corporate, and sensitive data by using complex bits of code to scramble the information and make it impossible for hackers to understand it. Even if a data breach occurs, encryption will ensure that an internet user’s private data remains secure.
Ever since most modern business organizations went digital, they have been gathering petabytes of user and consumer data. While most companies keep this data safe and secure, some of it ends up in the hands of unauthorized agents.
Because of that, modern organizations need to invest in the latest cybersecurity measures to ensure that cyber criminals can’t access private user data or make any sense of it if they do. To better understand how encryption can help, here are some reasons why data encryption is the ultimate solution for securing all online processes and transactions.
Online data is vulnerable
Modern businesses interact with their target audiences across numerous channels of communication available today. Cyber criminals have multiple ways to attack these channels and snatch the data that is floating around in transit.
Encryption is the only thing that stands in their way, ensuring that confidential customers and user data remain safe and secure, despite the efforts of hackers to extract online data through various techniques. And, sadly, criminals can exploit different means of gaining access to personal details.
Cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving
Just like technology is constantly advancing and evolving, so are cybersecurity threats. Cyber criminals have countless means, techniques, tools, and methods of finding new ways to bypass even the most advanced cybersecurity measures and steal the data they need.
While it’s true that encryption alone can’t prevent cyber-attacks, it can, however, render data impossible to read and interpret for attackers. Even if they manage to breach your firewalls and gain access to your data, they won’t be able to use it in any way.
Encryption scrambles sensitive data
Modern businesses have an extensive range of uncertified applications and online resources at their disposal that they can use for free or at affordable prices. While this can be a useful way to beat their competitors, it could also expose sensitive data and cause security breaches and intrusions.
As a consumer, you can choose applications that take advantage of the current encryption opportunities. For instance, end-to-end encryption is currently the most reliable technique for transferring private data. Thus, more and more companies offer such products to users.
- More secure instant messaging apps. Want to communicate with your friends and family members in a more secure environment? Then, you should pick an instant messaging app provider that pays a lot of attention to your privacy. Signal and Telegram are good choices to start.
- End-to-end encrypted email. The chances are that you transfer a lot of confidential information via email. There are providers that encrypt emails on the senders’ devices and decrypt them at the recipients’ devices. Everything that comes in between is prevented from seeing the actual content.
- Encrypt your internet traffic. Your online activities are a goldmine, and so is your digital identity. Everyone online wants a piece. Thus, you should try to evade the ever-growing monitoring and tracking. One way to escape these invasive practices is to use a VPN. A Virtual Private Network is an app that lets you encrypt your entire internet traffic. Everything you do travels in an encrypted tunnel. Thus, entities outside the tunnel cannot see a thing.
Encryption will continue to evolve
Many people still don’t fully realize that hacking is an industry. Just like modern businesses are constantly looking for the best solutions to keep an eye on their main competitors and get access to their competitor’s private data to learn their latest business strategies, the same goes for hackers.
The hacking industry is rapidly growing and expanding, becoming more sophisticated with each passing day. There are cyber-attacks every day where tech-savvy hackers breach companies’ online resources to make profits. Data encryption might just be the only thing that stands in their way, preventing them from stealing your sensitive, personal, and private data.
Who opposes end-to-end encryption?
Security experts and privacy advocates strongly support encryption and what it stands for. After all, encrypted data is safer, and it safeguards communications from unnecessary monitoring. You would not like to have Facebook or WhatsApp reading all your conversations. Even if you have nothing to hide, it might feel like an invasion of privacy. However, law enforcement agencies and governments do see encryption as a threat.
By giving users the privilege to communicate privately, it is essential to trust them. Thus, governments feel that some people might be exploiting technologies like end-to-end encryption for their own malicious gain. So, the question remains: should entities sacrifice their privacy because of potential criminals? While it has the potential to be misused, it does not make encryption dangerous.
More cybersecurity tips
Encryption plays an important role in cybersecurity. However, it is only a piece of the puzzle. To be safe online means to know how to recognize a threat and to have the means to fight it. Here are some other brilliant tricks you should follow:
- Create strong passwords. Not even the strongest encryption protocols will help you if your password is “123456.”
- Enable two-factor authentication. Protect your accounts by enabling 2FA. It means that before you log in, services will require a special token.
- Do not fill out random forms. It is possible for hackers to tempt you with deceptive pop-up messages. Say you receive a notification about winning a cash prize. The only thing you need to do is share your personal details. While you might feel lucky, it is likely a scam.
- Learn how to recognize phishing scams. Emailing platforms are one of the biggest channels used to spread malware. Additionally, criminals could attempt to extract personal details out of you via a deceptive email transaction.
Conclusion
Since the number of companies in need of the latest solutions for protecting their data from online attackers is constantly growing, the demand for the best cybersecurity solutions has grown exponentially. Cybersecurity isn’t an option anymore in the digital era – it is now the only thing that keeps your vital data safe.
Encryption is one of the most reliable ways to make services safer. For instance, companies should understand the necessity of encrypting clients’ information. Additionally, users themselves can choose which products they like. For instance, opting for apps supporting end-to-end encryption is one way to boost their privacy online.
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