In the News
In the midst of security and privacy concerns, Google is making big changes. In Google is shutting down Google+ for consumers following security lapse, Ashley Carman at The Verge discusses Google’s decision to shut down Google+ for consumers and instead leave the site open for corporate networking. Carman states that this news comes months following the exposure of user data earlier this year. Google has also announced additional policies for data access and use in order to quell concerns over Gmail security vulnerabilities.
Our Take
While Google+ may not be the most popular social media platform, it was nonetheless a platform storing millions of accounts full of consumer information. In the wake of this decision, it will be interesting to see how Google plans to delete its user data safely and permanently. The security flaw that exposed so many profiles serves as a reminder that social media sites hold valuable information, information that in the best interest of consumers and the platform must be securely stored. Google’s decision to increase policy surrounding data access in Gmail aims to increase consumer trust in Gmail as a secure platform. With consumers outraged over the access third-parties have to their information, the question facing platforms and tech companies is how much access is too much or just enough.
Recommendations
So how can you protect your personal information when using social media platforms?
- Understand the risks of putting your personal information into the world, and only share what you have to
- Be aware of default settings on social media platforms that automatically back up photos, files, and other potentially sensitive information to the Cloud… Use privacy settings when they are available
- Use safe password practices, and take advantage of Multi-factor Authentication where possible
- Minimize the number of accounts that have direct access to your bank account or credit/debit card numbers