The Guardian was subject to a hacker attack on its jobs website this week. This is quite worrying as thousands of prospective employees have uploaded very personal information, including CVs. It is particulaly disconcerting when it is reported that their jobs site attracts over 2 million unique users each month!
Now the UK has always had a more confident view over other european countries when it comes to online, especially when it comes to using it as a medium, uploading personal information and purchasing goods. In the recession it is also the only medium to see a increase in advertising spend, which illustrates its importance in the communications mix. A lingering issue that has always been prevalent is the concern over data and privacy. When search engines alone are storing our every moment online, and now hackers, which are becoming forever more sophisticated and will always be ahead of the protection curve, are delving in to our real life history, will confidence in online continue to thrive?
Some would say Yes, as the benefits outweight the risks. Others would disagree and argue that the potential of any very personal, regardless of whether it is tangible or intangible, risk may eventually create a model similar to peak oil. One thing is for sure and that is to expect more of this to come, and depending on the momentum and severity, it may have serious effects to both our relationship with online and utimately online communications, especially when the sleeping dragon, mobile, truely awakens.
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