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The need for encryption in a digital world

It's no secret that the digital landscape makes information security more difficult. Luckily, as threats continue to grow, encryption provides a sound solution.


The world is increasingly connected via technology creating ample security risks.

It seems like every day there is a new story about a loss of sensitive information due to a data breach by a cybercriminal. While there are many advantages to our highly-connected world, these increasing connections also pose more risks to our personal data than ever before.

Consider this: In June 2016 alone, there were over 289.000,000 breached records, according to IT Governance. Breaches and cyberattacks have become as commonplace as technological innovation itself.

We all know what happens when sensitive data falls into the wrong hands. Whether it is a large scale organisational breach or the hacking of an individual cell phone, the loss of sensitive information can result in considerable financial and reputational damage.

Battling breaches with encryption

Luckily, as threats continue to grow so do solutions. One protection method in particular has stood the test of time: Encryption.

"Although encryption has been around for many years, it has come to the fore again recently as a means of making it more difficult to gain unauthorised access to sensitive or confidential information, especially within the context of mobile devices," says Ovum research analyst Richard Edwards.

One protection method in particular has stood the test of time: Encryption.

By scrambling up the contents of a given text, encryption renders information unreadable to people without explicit access to the encryption key. In fact, according to IT consultant Carey Wodehouse in a contributing article for Business 2 Community, it is becoming an important component of any security solution.

"When you push your send button with emails, text chats, snaps or tweets, you immediately lose complete control and ownership of the message forever," explained SafeSwiss co-founder Tim Gallagher. "The recipient you send it to, or the platform or server takes ownership."

"Unless you are using encryption it has to be assumed that all phone calls, text chat, snaps or tweets can be made publicly available."

Without a secure encryption solution in place, digital users put their information at considerable risk. Encryption isn't exactly a new solution which, in part, speaks to its credibility. It has evolved over time to become a very intricate method of protection.

It certainly has an impressive track record, blocking even the FBI from reading messages associated with certain investigation. Just think: If encryption can prevent the FBI from accessing information, imagine what kind of protection it can provide you.

A complete solution

As with most solutions, there are a variety of providers that offer encryption. However, very few offer the type of protection that SafeSwiss can provide. Recently, encryption app Telegram had a major breach across Iran due to its reliance on phone numbers and SMS.

"Telegram's vulnerability lies in its use of SMS text messages to activate new devices," explained independent cyber researcher Collin Anderson and Amnesty International technologist Claudio Guarnieri in an interview with Reuters. "

Popular encryption app, Telegram, had a considerable breach recently.Popular encryption app, Telegram, had a considerable breach recently.

"When users want to log on to Telegram from a new phone, the company sends them authorization codes via SMS, which can be intercepted by the phone company and shared with the hackers," the researchers said.

The hackers are estimated to have accessed at least 15 million Iranian phone numbers associated with Telegram accounts as well as the user ID's. The information has the potential to provide a considerable road map of Iranian mobile users for future attacks.

Unlike Telegram, SafeSwiss' intuitive User Interface and login is not reliant on phone numbers and SMS as part of the authentication process. Thus ensuring our customers don't encounter issues like that with the Telegram breach.

SafeSwiss is uniquely positioned to safeguard your information

The SafeSwiss Advantage

SafeSwiss is uniquely positioned to safeguard your information because we are already world leaders in encryption technology. We are based in Switzerland, which means we directly benefit from Swiss security infrastructure and privacy laws - SafeSwiss primary servers are located deep within secure facilities located in Zurich.

Switzerland is not subject to the same surveillance that exists within the US and EU. In Switzerland it is only possible for surveillance of an individual to be carried out if that individual has first been informed.

This intention is then contestable in a court of law. SafeSwiss servers do not hold any of the encryption keys used in SafeSwiss communication exchange, so it's not possible for SafeSwiss to enable any unlawful interception of information.

These guarantees complement SafeSwiss' already powerful security encryption software.

Make sure your information has ample protection with SafeSwiss.Make sure your information has ample protection with SafeSwiss.

People need to be mindful of their digital and forensic footprint left behind following any messages sent out on their device - just because it's been deleted doesn't necessarily mean it's been erased forever.

Protect your information with SafeSwiss today by downloading our free app.