7 Mozilla tips on encryption and privacy

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Starting from the beginning, it is necessary to clearly explain what “cryptography” is, as it is a much less abstract concept than one might think and perhaps not everyone knows how closely it is linked to our personal privacy. Let’s start with its definition: “Cryptography is the technique of representing a message in a form such that the information contained within it can only be received by the intended recipient.” Cryptography, therefore, is about data encoding: only those in possession of the necessary keys – the sender and receiver of a message – can unlock specific content. Simple and straightforward.

When, therefore, a federal judge asks Apple to provide assistance by inspecting an iPhone to obtain information useful for an investigation, they are asking the company to create a dangerous precedent that represents a threat to user privacy: companies should be encouraged to strengthen the security of their products, not undermine it.

And this is not just a matter concerning devices but the internet as a whole: as many know, Mozilla is oriented towards a public and open web, the defense of which also implies identifying potential threats. Within its campaign for cryptography (advocacy.mozilla.org/encrypt), Mozilla wishes to share 7 tips to help users manage their internet experience in a more encrypted, therefore safer and more protected, way.

1) Understand that it is necessary to encrypt communication. Cryptography is the encoding of data that allows only people in possession of specific keys to access a message. Most modern communication systems use cryptography: iMessage, Signal, and WhatsApp, for example, provide encrypted messaging services, while Facetime, Signal, Firefox Hello, and Google Hangouts provide encrypted video services. Emails, phone calls, and SMS do not guarantee such advanced protection.

2)  Ensure that your software is always updated. Software updates can be compared to changing the oil in a car – it may seem like a hassle at the moment, but over time it’s the best solution. By regularly updating apps and devices, you benefit from the latest security discoveries made by developers. Many modern apps and operating systems update automatically to ensure greater security.

3) When entering personal information, you need to ensure that the website uses encryption. Without encryption, any private data sent to a website is at risk. If a small padlock appears next to the URL, the website uses encryption and is therefore secure.

4) Understand how online tracking works. Many websites track user browsing habits when they are online. Sometimes, these sites openly declare it and then use the data to improve the browsing experience. Other times, they track browsing without the user being aware. Mozilla has developed Mozilla Lightbeam, a simple add-on that informs the user if and by whom they are being tracked.

5)   Use two-factor authentication whenever possible. Two-factor authentication – like entering a PIN on your mobile phone – provides an additional layer of security to your account. This way, aspiring spies would need much more than a password to steal data; they would need the phone!

6)   Take passwords seriously. Long passwords are the most secure, and you shouldn’t use the same combination everywhere.

7) Delete accounts that are not being used. It happens to everyone to create a profile on a social network but quickly lose interest. In this case, if the profile is not used, the account must be deleted, as many services and apps sell user data even when devices are not in use.

Today, the Internet is one of the most important global public resources: it is open, free, and indispensable for daily life. It is where we chat, play, check our bank accounts, and shop. Doing all this on the Internet is possible thanks to a series of key principles, such as the awareness that individual security and privacy are indispensable elements.