03.05.2018

Today at Pinngle we have the pleasure to present you our interview with Ivonne Muñoz, Bachelor of Law, Master in Electronic Commerce, Professor of IT Security with Diplomas from ITESM (Technological Institute and Higher Studies of Monterrey) and UNAM (The National Autonomous University of Mexico). Nowadays she is General Director of the “IT Lawyers SC, a firm specializing in IT Law and IT Security. As a lecturer, instructor and consultant, Ivonne talked with us about the risks and advantages of new technologies, as well as about the current state of cybersecurity.

Pinngle: All scientific and technological developments take humanity to a more advanced level. At the same time, any achievement has its advantages and risks. What do you think, what are the risks and the advantages of the new communication technologies?

Ivonne: One of the main advantages of new communication technologies is that they allow us to be much more aware of what is happening almost all over the world and in different areas, that occurs almost in real time through social media and the wide variety of messaging systems that exist today. However, all this leads to various risks from “overlooking” relevant information, being exposed to false information that generates confusion, and of course, the information technology risks inherent to the applications.

Pinngle: It’s been a while since we have come to the tools and services in the ‘cloud’, which are very convenient for the user, but at the same time make easier for cybercriminals to organize their attacks. At Pinngle, we have adopted a new ‘serverless’ concept, which means that we do not store any type of user data in any server. Do you think that this can be a positive change towards the establishment of a new era of privacy and security?

Ivonne: The services in the cloud marked a great advance in having access to information at all times and places. The ‘serverless’ concept certainly offers a very secure environment with the perspective of not storing commercial and/or personal information of the user, but by its very nature it can result in something contrary, since by being in the market it becomes a target for cyber criminals to look for vulnerabilities to access the service platform with the intention to modify the configuration, and thus abusing the user’s trust in the application, start storing information, violating the “feeling” and certainty of security and privacy.

Pinngle: Nowadays the independent experts are very concerned and inform us, that not only cybercriminals, but the states themselves use malware to access the private data of their citizens. Don’t you think that this is the biggest challenge for democracy today?

Ivonne: The issue of governments gathering information from citizens has always been a rugged issue. And yes, it is a challenge for the governments to give to the people that security of not being spied on. However, it also depends on the citizens themselves to take the necessary measures to prevent governments or cybercriminals from having access to their information, that is by using secure applications and right practices while handling their own information.

Pinngle: Pinngle is a mobile instant messaging app, which is safe and works everywhere, allowing its users to stay in touch each moment, even when other messaging apps are blocked or out of service. This is how we want to maintain a balance between access to the information, freedom of expression and the security of private online data. Do you think this is possible?

Ivonne: It may become possible, on the one hand, Pinngle must provide the channels and the infrastructure that guarantees the security of the information sent by users, and at the same time, a self-regulation by users is needed regarding the same information, as well as the use of their device. A balanced formula also requires the respect for public policies as well as for IT policies that exist in the organizations in order to prevent the application from being used as a leakage channel for information. The security of the data is a joint work.

Pinngle: We already know that Cambridge Analytica used personal data of up to 87 million Facebook users for its political and commercial purposes, having an impact, particularly, on the results of the presidential elections in the United States and the Brexit referendum. There is a global concern and after this scandal privacy on the Internet has again been questioned. As we have said, Pinngle is the call and messaging app, which protects its users 100%, since it never stores any of their data, not even their contact information. Do you think this would help people to continue using digital media and social networks for their communication, maybe by choosing the most secure platform for themselves?

Ivonne: Without a doubt, we still insist that a campaign that promotes the safe and responsible use, as well as the user’s self-regulation, are important elements that will allow to build a responsible community in the sense of using Information Technologies both as a work tool and as a communication tool.