3 Ways the NSA is Spying on You and How You Can Protect Your Privacy
By
The claims of current investigations in the state indicate that the
National Security Agency is collecting billions of records to monitor people’s
data. The NSA has started massive data collection by connecting with all major
telecommunication service providers. In fact, in just the past three years
alone, the amount of data collected related to phone calls and text messages
have increased at 3x speed. Armed with many intelligent, sharp agents, NSA
analysts are frequently searching for detailed records of the general public by
gaining access to domestic telecom data.
By tapping into local telecom networks and data storage systems, these
security agencies target the personal data of users based on their domestic
call records and cloud storage data. From your mail ID, your geographical
pictures, everything you put on the internet is your personal data. While this
may seem trivial to you, your data is actually valuable in the eyes of big
companies and secret agencies. They have mastered the art of obtaining
mountains of private data at relatively low cost. Nothing can stop these
agencies from collecting large databases since there are not many privacy laws
holding them back. There are many sources through which your personal data can
be easily hacked and compromised. Here are some ways the NSA is spying on you
and what you can do about them to protect your privacy. When you go on the web to start browsing online, you normally use your
home WiFi which is usually unencrypted. Third parties and hackers can trace and
spy on your online activity when the internet connection is unencrypted.
This
can lead to many security issues related to the breach of private data and
sensitive information. It renders you more vulnerable to cybercrimes and opens
the doorway for criminals to copy your sensitive files and sell them to other
parties or even stage a ransomware attack.
To
protect against this, a user should use a VPN router to hide their IP address and encrypt all
devices so that third parties cannot see it. An encrypted router can protect
your IP address and hides all your internet activity from the NSA, CIA and
other similar agencies. A secure VPN can protect from DNS leaks, connection
issues, and IP leaks as well. Whenever you are surfing on the internet or
through free public WiFi, it is important to ensure that you have activated an
encryption tool to protect your privacy.
Another way the NSA spies on your data is by interception of your
data. Whenever we surf the internet, there are two options available either, to
pay for accessing information, or get free access with ads. Most people opt for
the second option, and unknowingly enable cookies. NSA uses the cookies and makes use of that to process personal
data and trace your device data, location information, logs, and other valuable
items about you.
One way to protect against this is by conducting periodic sweeps on
your device. Regularly delete cookies that you find saved in your device by clearing cookies through the browser settings. There are many
different tools to help you monitor your cookies and these can protect you from
websites that invade your privacy. Agencies are tapping cell phone location information through mobile
network cables globally. This harvested location data enables agencies like NSA
to track movements of individuals and can quickly help in mapping their hidden
relationships with others.
All your phone’s connections like Wi-Fi, GPS and geolocation data can
be used to quickly pinpoint your location. Unless you are absolutely in need of
using such networks, it is best to turn it off. The issue is that for your cell
phone to function, it will regularly ping telecommunication towers, which
allows your telecom company and the NSA to identify where you are. So if you don’t
need to use it, you don’t need to leave it on.
At the end of the day, no matter what favorable terms you may be
presented with to seduce you into giving up your data, your data is your
privacy. The protection of your own personal data is a critical issue. Take
things into your hands by performing your own internet self-assessment. Use a reliable VPN to
encrypt your network, periodically clearing your device’s cookies, and turn off
your networks and disable location tracking to help boost your protection of
your online privacy. Such measures will go a long way to safeguarding your
privacy online.
Hacking Your Data via an Unencrypted Internet
Network
Intercepting Mass Amounts of Data
Penetrating Telecommunication Providers
