Perspective: Insecurity In The Digital World

Reprinted with permission from CNet.com.

Of course, there are many advantages to maintaining information in electronic form. But this column is not about the favorable aspects of electronic data retention.

Rather, I want to examine what's become the soft underbelly of the digital world. I am talking about you, your private data, and how easily that data can go missing or can be used against you.

Sure, we all hear about potential privacy and security breaches in the abstract. This, however, is not an academic ivory tower exercise. Your personally identifiable information is vulnerable here and now. Let's consider two extremely recent examples to drive the point home.