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Even if you think your data is private, proceed with caution

People think that when they use mobile communication apps like Snapchat, their data is perfectly safe and secure. But is it really?


Your Snapchat activity might not be as private as you think.

In general, there's a vast difference between how secure we think our mobile data is on a daily basis and how secure it is in reality. This is because we only know what we see with our own eyes - because the process of communicating on a mobile device looks seamless and easy, we have no reason to doubt that it is. Unfortunately, though, there's a lot happening that's beyond our field of vision. Cyberthreats are lurking.

People assume when they use Snapchat that the app is secure - but is it really?

Consider, for example, the popular mobile app Snapchat. People assume when they use Snapchat that the app is secure - but is it really? And if it's not, is there more that its users should be doing to protect themselves?

The truth about Snapchat and your data

We all understand the general concept behind Snapchat. You send people pictures and messages, they read them, and then the messages disappear in a matter of seconds. Seemingly, there's no trail - no way for our data to be intercepted. It's the ultimate in data privacy.

In reality, though, it's all a facade. According to Stuff, you can read the fine print to discover that Snapchat still owns your photos long after they disappear. Unknowingly, you've signed over Snapchat's rights to "host, store, use, display, reproduce, modify, adapt, edit and publish" your pictures.

This really makes you think about data security. If your information isn't as safe as you initially thought, what does this mean? And what do you need to do to defend yourself?

Create your own data security

The reality is that all of us need to be better about securing our mobile data. We can't expect companies like Snapchat to protect our pictures for us.

Keep your data under lock and key.Keep your data under lock and key.

Fortunately, there are many steps that individual users can take to ensure a safer mobile experience. One is to stick to secure networks, where it's far more difficult for intruders to swoop in and steal data. Another is to lock phones, and the apps within them, to the outside, by using stronger password protection.

If you want to go one step further, though, encryption software is really the next step in privacy.

Real-time encryption is what you need

In the 21st century, data changes hands in real time. If you're on Snapchat, for example, you have the power to take a picture and show it to all your friends within milliseconds.

Unfortunately, that means your data is available just as quickly to lurking cybercriminals. This means you need a fast-acting solution - which, fortunately, SafeSwiss can offer in the form of real-time file encryption.

At SafeSwiss, we safeguard your data by creating a specific "key" to your device and blocking outside users from accessing this key. We also have a self-destruct feature that can automatically "shred" your data and keep it from being exposed. Even in a post-Snapchat world, your data is still vulnerable, but we can help with protecting it.