In the News
Tumblr users rejoice! In Tumblr – finally – enables HTTPS for all accounts, Zack Whittaker at TechCrunch discusses the recent addition of site encryption to Tumblr’s online platform by default setting. Whittaker explains that this feature is past due for the platform, but that it will increase privacy for the platform’s users. Whittaker clarifies that Tumblr did provide site encryption previously, but only for users who manually enabled the setting.
Our Take
Site encryption is a simple feature which often goes unnoticed by the average user. On the front end, we don’t see the benefit of the tiny little ‘s’ at the end of HTTPS, but this one little letter secures the privacy of our online browsing. These days, privacy is a big topic of debate in society, and Tumblr’s move to add increased privacy through encryption is a smart move. Why the platform had not previously made this encryption a default setting remains slightly suspicious, but what matters most is that user habits on Tumblr will not be made more secure and private. It may be shocking to think that a site as big and popular as Tumblr did not have ‘HTTPS’ encryption already enabled, but this goes to show that a platform or apps name does not tell the full story about their privacy priorities. Always look for the ‘HTTPS’ component of a URL to ensure that you are browsing securely.
Recommendations
How can you protect the security and privacy of your accounts?
- Understand the risks of putting your personal information into the world, and only share what you have to
- Utilize additional security/privacy measures and settings on apps, accounts, and platforms whenever possible
- Use safe password practices when creating online accounts, and take advantage of Multi-factor Authentication where possible