We have become numb to hacking
When one of the world’s biggest websites was hacked recently, few people cared. The news about the Facebook breach should have stopped the tech world and alarmed users but, instead, most people just carried on scrolling and posting.
The hack, which affected 50 million accounts, was caused by a tool created by Facebook to show users what their own profile looks like to other people.
The hackers got access to users’ profile information, including name, gender and hometown.
Most people either don’t care or understand the importance of their personal data and how vulnerable it is.
That’s because there have been so many large-scale hacks that people just read the headline and move on.
Earlier this year it was revealed that the Facebook data of another 50 million users was exploited by Cambridge Analytica. It was a damning report that should have shocked users into questioning their trust of Facebook.
While some people deleted their accounts, most just carried on as usual.
Facebook isn’t the only company that is careless with your personal data.
A few of the bigger ones include Yahoo admitting a data breach that affected 500 million accounts, eBay being hit by a cyber attack impacting 145 million users, Uber having the data of 57 million users and 600,000 drivers exposed and Sony having 77 million accounts hacked.
So why do people not care about their personal data?
One reason is that they don’t value it. People are so used to giving it away to any tech company or website that they think it’s like giving out their phone number.
Also, most people now value services such as social media over the price they pay. That is, they care more about having access to Facebook than the data it takes and makes vulnerable.
Another reason behind the continued attacks is that there are no real repercussions against those companies that fail to protect your data.
The only authority willing to take on the tech giants is the European Union but even it lacks teeth. It is proposing to fine Facebook US$1.6 billion over the latest breach which is not much for a company that generates about US$50b each year.
Tech companies just say sorry and that they’ll try to do better next time, but that line is becoming increasingly hard to believe.
That means it’s up to you to take care of your personal data. Be careful who you give it to and make
So why do people not care about their personal data? One reason is that they don’t value it.
sure you either regularly change passwords or use a password manager.
Data breaches will continue, so be prepared for the day that you are one of those exposed.