Our Pinngle family is extremely excited to talk about media security and online privacy with a web developer, blogger, and security guy José María Acuña Morgado. Pinngle is a secure mobile messaging app that works anywhere even when other messengers get shut down or blocked. Because security and privacy of our users are among our core values, we have decided to explore how they are perceived by media experts and bloggers.
Below is the transcript of our interview with José María Acuña Morgado:
Pinngle: Today, businesses can pay a private phone company to learn more about people/potential customers and see all of their public records (contact information, for ex., email/phone numbers, etc.). What is your opinion about this in regards to privacy?
JMAM: Our activity in the network leaves a trace.
We provide personal data when we register in any website as a user, in shopping portals, social networks, contact portals, blogs, forums, email services, or instant messaging systems.
When we provide personal data in the network, we must ensure the reliability and security offered by the company requesting them, and must only provide the necessary data for the purpose for which they are being collected. For this reason, we have to go to the privacy policies and the conditions of use that are published on the different websites.
With some exceptions, we have the right to request the cancellation of the data published on these websites or, at least, to prevent their recovery by search engines by addressing the person responsible for the website that hosts the content with our data or the author of the content. in the case of blogs and forums.
For their part, telephone operators are obliged by law to have a privacy notice explaining how the personal data collected will be used through their commercial activities and to protect them in the event of any casualty.
Pinngle: What do you think the future holds for social media (or instant messaging apps) security & privacy? Can you please give our readers some tips on how to improve their online privacy?
JMAM: Users of this type of media are beginning to become aware of the importance and value of personal data.
Our personal information is very valuable, not only for us but also for other people, brands, companies and even for cybercriminals, so we must avoid making improper use of it, putting into practice the following tips:
- You have to be careful with the information you share. Once published on the Internet, it is permanent, beyond your control and accessible from anywhere in the world.
- Properly configure the privacy options in your social network profiles. Control who has access to your publications.
- Know your rights The Law on Data Protection (LOPD) requires all Spanish companies to protect your data, however, not all companies apply this law being located in other countries. Before using an information service, read the privacy policies well.
- Be cautious with your devices and public places. Do not forget the security of your devices, and always use secure networks to share information.
- If any information published about you is harming you, ask for it to be removed to Google or to the corresponding service. You have the right to forget on the Internet.
[If living in Spain] Visit the Internet Security Office (OSI) of the National Cybersecurity Institute of Spain (INCIBE) where they provide the necessary information and support to avoid and solve the security problems that may exist when surfing the Internet:
Pinngle: Do you believe that web is dying? How can our Public Channel change the game?
JMAM: In the world there are 4,000 million people connected to the internet, exceeding 50% of the population.
The proliferation of certain models, paradigms, and disciplines make our dependence on technology ever greater. Think of email, social networks, cloud computing or the use of mobile and smart devices.
Let’s not forget that communications based on TCP are clear, that is, unencrypted. The Internet was not intended for a context like the one we have now and there are very few users adequately aware.
The presence of cybersecurity and its implications are becoming increasingly important.
In a technological society and in a web such as the current one, cybersecurity affects practically all facets of the daily life of people, organizations, and governments.
In this sense, professionals must have the ability to adapt at all times to their environment and to propose new solutions, controls, defenses, and countermeasures.
Pinngle: Do you believe there are secure messaging apps? And what do you understand by “secure Messenger?” Do you prefer using messaging apps with end-to-end encryption over non-encrypted ones? Why?
JMAM: Encrypting all your devices is the best way to prevent them from accessing the data they contain. But in addition, we should also protect the information we exchange through them, such as messages and calls.
By encrypting your messages, you will be sure that only you and your receiver can read the messages that you exchange.
End-to-end encryption uses complex mathematical algorithms to organize your data so that only the receiver can decipher them.
Neither the application provider can see them, not even your operator can access them.
Some of the messaging apps for mobile devices that allow sending encrypted messages:
Signal: figure in the ranking of instant messaging services in terms of security. It does not store the information contained in the conversations nor does it allow backups and it can be configured in such a way that no one can take screenshots or that makes it possible for messages to self-destruct.
Threema: each message is deleted from the server at the time it was delivered to your device.
Wire: the metadata of sent messages are stored on the server for a month (although privately) but the information about the calls is never stored.
Pinngle: encrypts all messages and calls without storing any data on its servers. In this way, neither third parties nor the provider has got access to the information sent.
Pinngle: At Pinngle, we have adopted the serverless concept which means me do not save any kind of user data on any servers. Do you think this can make a positive change towards establishing privacy & security?
JMAM: Undoubtedly, using robust encryption systems to exchange sensitive or private information and prevent it from being stored by the provider to prevent its reading are two fundamental steps to safeguard the privacy of users.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your ideas with us.
