It’s hard to imagine a world without smartphones. Now more than ever, technology is rapidly developing, and the pressure to become more entrenched in the digital world is stronger than ever.
Due to this, if we choose to embrace these new mobile tech trends in our lives, we must analyze their benefits vs drawbacks. Governments all over the world are examining and regulating how tech companies collect our data and how it impacts our right to online privacy.
We, as consumers, must also do our part to take the necessary precautions to protect the remnants of privacy we can cling to. In this article, we will discuss 5 emerging technologies of 2023, specifically in relation to mobile devices.
5G Networks
5G cellular networks are enabled by the latest network tech in mobile connectivity. Like its predecessors, 4G and 3G, 5G aims to bring us faster download and upload speeds. It currently works alongside 4G, but will soon replace it entirely.
5G brings a new generation of connectivity for people worldwide and for machines, objects, and devices. Unlike 4G, 5G can support an immense number of devices connected to it simultaneously with ultra-low latency.
This network’s higher performance and improved efficiency allow for possibilities to change how we view, live, and connect with the world around us.
How Will 5G Change the World?
With improved connectivity and faster downloads, 5G will drastically improve our internet experience. Not only this, but a reduced delay in data transmission allows for smoother operations in various industries, including Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and smart cities.
Perhaps the most significant change we will see when 5G takes over is wider integration of the Internet of Things (IoT), as 5G’s ultra-fast speeds allows multiple device connections without lags.
For example, industries such as the medical field can use 5G to perform surgeries remotely, and cities can deploy numerous IoT devices using 5G for traffic management, environmental monitoring, and public safety.
What Are The Privacy Concerns of 5G?
A substantial privacy concern with 5G revolves around data collection practices, surveillance, and the number of devices we connect to. IoT devices are especially vulnerable to attacks due to their lack of computing power to encrypt data and software, making them an easy target for cybercriminals.
To protect your data from being stolen from connected devices or via the 5G network, first of all, ensure your IoT devices and network are protected with the help of a strong password generator. Attackers can easily find default passwords for IoT devices. So changing the password on the device can diminish this threat.
Secondly, ensure all your devices connected to 5G are updated with the most recent software to reduce attacks resulting from vulnerabilities of outdated code. Finally, familiarize yourself with how products connected to 5G use or collect your data, and opt out of options you don’t feel comfortable with.
Mobile Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Biometric authentication is becoming more prevalent because of its increased security and reduced risk of compromised data. Due to this, many businesses and users are moving toward a future without passwords and shifting towards a reliance on multi-factor authentication methods for their mobile and other devices.
Multifactor authentication is a vital tool for mobile and device security. If your password is compromised by a dictionary or brute force attack, MFA is an additional security feature that blocks unauthorized access to your account. Standard authentication methods to prove user identity include:
- Knowledge-based: something you know, i.e., a password, PIN, or security question
- Possession-based: something you have, i.e., a security key, device, or authenticator app on your phone
- Biometric: something that’s part of you, i.e., face ID, or fingerprint
Authentication methods are developing to account for this shift away from passwords, and in the future, we will likely be able to protect our accounts with techniques such as:
- Typing patterns: Each person has a distinct typing pattern on their mobile (speed, rhythm, pressure, keystroke intervals), which the device learns and uses to authenticate the user’s access to their account
- Voice and speech patterns: Less common on mobiles presently, this authentication analyzes speech patterns and other unique qualities of a user’s voice
- Device movement: The way we hold our devices is also unique; sensors in the phone continuously learn and create a behavior profile based on the user’s actions to verify their identity
Moving away from passwords will take some time. Until then, use MFA to complement password management, such as unique passwords for all your accounts stored in a reputable password manager.
User Privacy in Wearable Technology
Wearable technology, specifically smartwatches and fitness trackers, can benefit our health, fitness, and general well-being. On the other hand, smartwatches or similar wearable technology must collect your data to function optimally and give you feedback on your health or performance.
Users also often connect to third-party apps for sleep analysis, running statistics, or for medical reasons. Sharing this data increases the risk of data breaches and raises concerns about how companies handle and use your data.
To ensure companies handle your data securely and effectively, they should be explicit in gaining your consent so you know how they use it. Therefore, when dealing with new wearable technologies and third-party apps, look for this consent before deciding to use the app or technology; if you don’t know how these companies use your data, it is better to find an alternative.
Social Media Privacy: The Growth of Video Content & The Metaverse
With the growth of social media platforms, especially TikTok, the outrage regarding privacy and social media continues to be a controversial issue for many. In August 2023, European Union data privacy regulators announced plans to fine TikTok £12.7m ($16.2 million) for failing to comply with EU regulations for children under 13 using its platform.
Another industry that is (slowly) gaining more traction in the tech world is the metaverse, which is increasingly blurring the line between our real and virtual lives due to its reliance on Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. Not only can the metaverse gather your personally identifiable information, but it can also collect data by reading body movements, eye movements, and how we walk, talk, and breathe.
The problem with privacy over social media, the metaverse, AR, and VR, is that the technology is moving so fast that privacy laws have difficulty catching up. One thing to remember, especially regarding social media, is that if it is free, you are the product. So, if you are an avid social media user but don’t want to compromise your privacy, be mindful of what you are sharing and how it can affect you.
Protecting Your Mobile Data for a Safer Future
As we live in a fast-paced world that is constantly shifting, adapting to new technology trends is a great way to connect, learn and share experiences with others. Nevertheless, we must also increase our cyber awareness of these technologies and adapt our security and mobile privacy management simultaneously before our sensitive information falls into the wrong hands.
