Artificial intelligence is becoming a part of our daily lives, but should we be worried about our privacy? Here are some quick tips from industry experts to keep your personal information safe.
by Mickey Carroll, science and technology reporter
Friday, June 14, 2024 03:09, UK
From voice assistants on our speakers to smart washing machines, artificial intelligence (AI) is making its way into every corner of our lives.
this week, Apple unveils a range of new AI features Elon Musk said this could be an “unacceptable security breach.”
last month, Microsoft announced the feature, raising security concerns. It takes screenshots of the user's laptop every few seconds.
So with so much technology in our homes and pockets, should we be concerned about our privacy and how our personal information is used?
“Technology is great, but you have to trust the technology,” says Vonny Gamot, head of EMEA. Cybersecurity McAfee Inc.
“Otherwise we would still be walking and not driving cars, we wouldn't be going to the moon, we wouldn't be using computers.”
What worries her is how the technology will be used.
“AI is simply a tool that bad actors can use to commit fraud or collect data that was never intended to be shared,” she says.
It's not just scammers who want our information: Advertisers have long wanted to know who we are and what we do, but the information we share is now also used to train artificial intelligence.
If you're concerned about your data and privacy, here are some simple steps from AI experts.
Check your phone settings
“The most important thing is [you can do] “The key is to look at where you share data,” Gamot said.
She suggests starting with your cell phone.
“Go to Settings and click Microphone to see all the apps that are using your microphone. Why does Maps need a microphone? It doesn't.”
Read more: Will artificial intelligence make people buy Apple products again?
Review which apps have permission to use your camera, microphone, the files on your phone, and your location, and make sure you only share data with apps you allow.
Gamot is particularly concerned that people may unknowingly grant apps access to their microphones.
“3 seconds [of recording] “It's enough to get a bad actor to replicate your voice,” she says.
Read our terms and conditions
When you browse the internet, make sure you read what you are agreeing to.
“The most common example is the cookie banner,” said Conor McCaffrey of AI data security company Securiti Sciences Limited.
“The most conscious thing I do is read the documents and understand who the organization is, what data they're collecting about me, and what they're doing with that data.”
You don't have to simply click “Approve” – you can choose which permissions to allow or deny them all.
Video AI – What You Need to Know
This is also important if you want to upload content, such as photos, to your website.
By uploading content, you may be giving up rights to that content, so we recommend you know what you're agreeing to.
Do I need to provide that information?
“People are just collecting data. That's their job,” Gamot said.
“When signing up for a website or service, consider how much information you actually need to provide.
“[Companies] They collect data to sell it, and that's all they care about. Whether it's you, your grandmother, your friends, it's data, and it has a price tag.”
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She recommends thinking about what information you actually need to provide: If you're getting a product delivered, it makes sense to give your address, but in other scenarios, an address might not be relevant.
“When providing personal information, make sure it is appropriate to leave your email address, address, age, passport number, etc.”
“We need to be very careful about that.”
Is it worth it?
The last thing that matters is deciding whether an app is worth giving someone access to your phone.
“Realize that data is the most valuable thing you have,” McCaffrey said. “And that's what these organizations are primarily sacrificing.”
He specifically points out free apps, like games, where you're not paying for the app, but you might be paying with your personal information.
“I don't download random gaming apps because I know they're just going to suck data off my phone and resell it,” McCaffrey said.
“Games may be fun, but is five minutes of dopamine worth selling my date of birth and IP address? [they’re taking]”
