Bay Path University

Bay Pathway Spring 2017

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10 Bay Pathway Spring 2017 individuals, but there is a flip side. "Data is being collected, and people don't even know it—from reward cards to what you search on the internet. The issue becomes what happens with your data and data profile, and how secure they are in pro- tecting that data," states Snyder. "Can you imagine if there were a cyberattack on a data center that had millions of records on peo- ple? Most companies have incred- ible defenses, but these cyber criminals are continually probing and adapting." "It comes down to consumer choice and education," adds Saunders. "For example, the minute you walk through the door, a retailer is offering you product messages while you shop and even after. It's the data the retailers have generated on you that has allowed this to happen. I don't want them following me, so when I go into a retail store, I turn my off my location services. It's my choice." "Also, people don't have the opportunity to correct their data profiles," according to Snyder. "Nor do they have the choice if they even want a data profile. In America, the burden is on the consumer to opt out. In Europe, privacy is much more closely held by the consumer. They have to opt in." It's a careful tightrope the con- sumer walks between privacy and security and convenience. But, there is an upside. "We will see more and more standardization of data and how data is handled," states Jia. "Applied data science and cybersecurity are already working together to build in protections. In the end, I truly believe data from the IoT will give consumers more power and more information. But the responsibility will be on the consumer." The last statement is key: responsibility. The IoT has changed the relationship between users and their devices, and consumers need to speak up, read up, and take action to manage their privacy and data. Consumers need to make life harder for hackers. ________________ consumers walk a tightrope between privacy, security, and convenience. ________________ PROFESSOR LARRY SNYDER Be careful to whom you provide your information—when, where and how. Don't hesitate to check out privacy policies. And always keep changing your password on devices. PROFESSOR ROBIN SAUNDERS Minimize the amount of data you are putting out there about yourself. Think about turning your location services off. Don't let them track you all the time. Create alias accounts. DR. NING JIA When making online purchases, order from well-established websites, such as Amazon. Other websites may have lower prices, but you do not know if your information will be sold to third parties. What are the little things you can do to have a big impact in your corner in the IoT? Our panel of experts offer a range of suggestions to help you navigate the changing world of the IoT.

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