Introduction

For human beings, privacy is a valuable thing because it ensures protection in various domains of life. They like having control of what is known about them, and they do this to shelter their reputation. No one would want to expose their secrets to anyone because our secrets and our privacy are part of us. Exposed information can be manipulated to ruin a life, tarnish the image, destroy the reputation, or endanger the life of the victim. The perpetrators can manipulate private information about business for financial gain. Technology poses a significant threat to privacy, and the degree of protection of personal privacy has reduced. In the wake of the new millennium, technical experts have focused on information protection regimes to respond to the increasing threats to personal information. According to Peng, Liu, Meng, and Wang (2017), segregation of IT and inadequate employment opportunities have encouraged individuals and groups to engage in different kinds of cybercrimes, including malware, phishing, and other categories of ransomware. Threats about privacy are real as the technical capacities to search and gain access to information about electronic payment, telephone calls, messages, emails, and other information categories getting segregated and are controlled by corporate actors and government agencies alike. The rise of big data and advanced high-tech solutions for surveillance have increased the complexity of information protection. Information about customers, finances, employees, and business strategy is a vital asset to a firm. This essay explores the different ways in which IT assist in protecting privacy.

Solving privacy concerns using IT

The current outlook of privacy considers IT as the principal root of privacy concerns. However, numerous privacy solutions utilized IT techniques using best practices, rules, algorithms, or guidelines that are designed to support the development of privacy systems. These solutions establish ethically-informed methodologies of using encryption to safeguard private data. In particular, different IT approaches used to protect privacy are outlined in this section.

Design methods

Design methods avail a theoretical approach to use technology to protect human privacy comprehensively and accurately. The design incorporates a sequence of rules for manipulating a system while putting a particular value as the fundamental parameter. Confidentiality is one of the values that are considered in a value-sensitive approach that is utilized in the implementation of privacy centered IT system. People design their specific privacy systems depending on their privacy choices. During the application of the respective design, the integration of software bugs is done to recognize private information. These systems increase the degree of consent to the user to allow them to make private choices. These systems are mainly availed by websites, apps, emails, and other internet creations. To self-privacy, you have to provide a match of the designed privacy settings established the user and those issued by the application, website, email, or an internet source. Some of the examples include the use of DPIA before accessing personal data or providing DPO contact details, or establishing a privacy policy and keeping it updated.

Identity management

User identifiers are useful in social and current internet networks. An online image is vital for different users of the platforms. In the modern epoch of using big data, user data has a linked monetary value. Single user frameworks are supervised by various third parties and by renowned organizations such as Google, Facebook, WhatsApp, Microsoft, and others to allow users to access online services with their unique identities. These links are attached to respective individuals. Indeed, the user has to log on to a private identity attached to each platform. Accessing a direct relationship between the user and online identities is itself a threat to from the perspective of user privacy because they permit profiling activities. Profiling is more straightforward when the profile data is connected with implicit authentication techniques such as cookies. Users cannot be tracked to be unauthorized identities when their data is secured with identity management. With the recent self-sovereign identity, users have complete dominance and monitoring of their digital identities.

Encryption of sensitive data

Encryption makes data unreadable until the owner of the information input an accurate identity and password. Encrypting personal information entails the utilization of encryption keys and algorithms. A ciphertext is generated, which is only accessible in the original form, and the user has to input an accurate key to decrypt. Ciphers with symmetric-key require identical keys to encrypt or decrypt files or information storage devices. However, the user must exchange the key with the person receiving information before decrypting it. Contra wise, asymmetric encryption applies different keys for encryption and decryption of personal information. The open key may be shared with anyone, while the private entry is confidential. The Rivest-Sharmir-Adleman (RSA) is the most common algorithm used for encryption for public-key to secure personal electrical data when it is transferred via an insecure network. The RSA rules are popular because it delivers a key that can be applied by several parties to protect the authenticity, confidentiality, and integrity of electronic files using digital signatures.

Patching and updating software

The two steps are generally observed to protect against ransomware. Ransomware attackers find opportunities in outdated software that have numerous vulnerabilities that can be exploited in the background to access private information. Frequent updating and patching reduce vulnerabilities for the ransomware effect. Software and application vendors frequently release security updates. Examples of such vendors include Microsoft, WhatsApp, Facebook, Google, Android, and Apple. Automatic updates are relevant to cover you whenever you forget. Additionally, software update notifications can be activated to remind the user to prevent the possibility of exposing your privacy to the vulnerabilities of outdated software or applications.

Using Firewalls

When a computer is subjected to online networks and the internet, cyber attackers will scan for vulnerabilities on the computer. This necessitates the need for a firewall. Firewalls prevent suspicious data from being sent to a computer without authorization from the owner. The commuter is invisible to attackers, and therefore they cannot access the computer. For adequate protection, firewalls are kept running without limits. Firewalls are grouped into hardware firewalls and software firewalls, although they can be used together. Some OS have software firewalls that come with the computer, such as the Windows Firewall. Windows firewalls should be kept running if you don’t own a third-party firewall. Configuration steps should be observed to make a firewall more reliable. Hardware firewalls are stand-alone provisions and can be found along broadband routers consisting of firewall features. A router operates between the computer and the modem, making it difficult for hackers to penetrate through a firewall box. However, the router should be appropriately configured by a rigid password that cannot be easily cracked.

Application of anti-malware and anti-virus programs

Malicious software has increased in the last decade. Malware may manifest in terms of adware, Trojans, viruses, spyware, and worms. They can cause widespread damage, and sometimes they drive the permanent loss of private data. Anti-virus programs blocks viruses that may penetrate and cause damage or steal personal information. Anti-malware programs block unwanted malware programs that may penetrate software and applications without the awareness of the user. Although anti-malware and anti-virus creations are crucial elements to securing information, their effectiveness may not be guaranteed. Integrating positive security habits to supplement these programs is necessary. Several antivirus software contains anti-malware features. Despite that, different anti-malware and anti-virus programs must be combined to handle sophisticated malware programs. Every program should be subjected to deal with one of the diverse threats to improve security and reliability. For example, a user can integrate different antimalware for spyware, ransomware, phishing, worms, adware, and Trojans. These programs should be regularly updated to induce capabilities to contain the newest threats.

Conclusion

This research identified and analyzed different information technology approaches used to protect privacy. Among the highlighted IT techniques included identity management, firewall integration, anti-malware and anti-virus, data encryption, updating and patching, and design methods. Depending on the needs of the user, one program of a combination of programs can be used. Because of the increasing sophistication of cybercrimes techniques, the user must practice careful security practices. Additionally, applications and software should be updated frequently to have the capacity to handle the newest threats. However, there is a research gap in establishing single programs with multiple capabilities to reduce the complexity and storage needs of using different programs to protect computers. Therefore IT experts need to be ahead of cyber attackers to end the recurrent threats to personal privacy.