The very nature of technology is that you never sit still, you never rest on your laurels. The constant drive to do things a bit faster or a bit better is the force that has brought us from computers the size of an entire room to smartphones tucked comfortably in a pocket.
For people who prefer a greater level of predictability in life, this treadmill can be very frustrating. Most of those people, though, still acknowledge at least some desire for the goods and services made possible by the increased automation of the world. If they can be bailed out of a late charge on a bill by paying it online, they’re in favor of technology.
But there are some very real risks that we must always anticipate, and there are several main areas where our vulnerabilities reside. As long as we remain vigilant to these particular areas of weakness, we are well on our way to avoiding damage there.
Crashes Are Always Just One Step Away
Computer systems are like high-speed race cars. They travel at high speeds with a never ending clamoring for them to go faster. The harder they push, the closer they are to disaster. And no matter what pleas for moderation come from the operators, the spectators continually want more.
It seems that every increase in storage space or processing speed is met by a higher demand to store more or to process faster. And because technology is eternally gathering more information, it’s more important every day to have security and data recovery options. A single crash can bring down a company through loss of records on orders, payroll, product designs, or countless other business processes. Everything must be backed up and recovery systems must be in place. If not, the entire ship can sink.
The company Secure Data Recovery offers free diagnostics and offers a huge variety of recovery and repair services.
Hackers Are Standing By
As soon as any new software or hardware hits the market, there are hackers who have dedicated months to being prepared to exploit it. The identification of weaknesses in any new product can take just a few days, and until a fix is identified, marketed, and utilized, hackers can have a field day. Their disappointment after repairs is always short-lived, of course; the next new product is now just months away itself.
This battle between the advancement of good and evil carries one of the best lessons for the consumer: If you fear getting hacked, don’t stand in line for new technologies. Stick with your older version for a while and let the bugs work out. Then once the new one is secure, help yourself. It’s the early adopters who get burned, so you can avoid it by taking on new technology once it’s tried and true.
When We Advance, They Advance Too
No matter what we do to try to secure systems, there will always be a demand to do even more to breach them. For some hackers, it’s the challenge of breaking through security just for the thrill of doing so. For most, though, it’s the opportunity to get financial benefit. And as long as there is personal data and financial information contained in computers, there will be hackers trying to access it for profit.
If this process frustrates you, you’re not alone. The way to conquer it is to take the attitude that the hackers do; what will they throw at us next, and how will we respond? Again, letting the dust settle a bit before buying in is always smart, but some basic personal security like good passwords and limited use of financial information is also helpful.
Even if you’re 90 years-old and have never used a computer, technology affects your life. When you do get involved, you should always be alert to the risks that you are exposed to. As always, knowing the enemy is the most critical step. From there, it’s all about reacting appropriately.