The dust has barely settled from the New Years celebrations and we are already into our first drama of 2021. Whatsapp has decided to update its privacy statement which apparently allows it to sell certain information to Facebook.

Predictably, this has left a sour taste in many peoples mouths with a significant number of Whatsapp users exiting stage left. The world is being run by data and we are very protective of our privacy. So, what are the alternatives to Whatsapp and are they any better? Let us unpack this debate.

Go back to the beginning

To fully appreciate the issue, we need to start at the beginning. I read an interview on Moneyweb where Moneyweb journalist, Dudu Ramela, spoke to Arthur Goldstuck, CEO of World Wide Worx, to unpack the issue. The written transcript of the interview, as well as an audio version, can be found here.

Ramela: What is it that one needs to know to make an informed decision about whether to stay or to go?

Goldstuck: Thank you, Dudu. The first thing to know is that, if you do go, it means that you will not be able to keep in contact with most of your connections – family, friends, contacts – using WhatsApp as the main communication channel. If you use email primarily, if you use SMS or voice, or even Facebook Messenger for that matter, you will find that WhatsApp in South Africa is used by more than half the population. So, you have got to consider that before looking at all the other issues.

There are two main issues that people are concerned about. The one is that people think this means Facebook would have access to the content of the chat – and that is not true. Facebook cannot access the content of any WhatsApp chat because it is encrypted. There are exceptions if you are involved in criminal activity, or [authorities] believe that you are a suspect or a person of interest in a terrorism case. Then they have the right to use various tools and techniques to access those messages. But besides those extreme circumstances, the contents of your messaging are completely secure.

The real issue here is that they are going to allow Facebook and WhatsApp to combine information about usage of the apps and your smartphone. So, if you use WhatsApp, for example, it automatically has access to your entire contacts list. And, in effect, that is what Facebook is telling you to share – from WhatsApp to Facebook – so they can target you more accurately based on how many people you are in touch with, what kinds of communication you have with those people, not what is in it. But the fact that you are involved in video communication, for example, could be used to target advertising at you.

But, generally speaking, they can access your location data, the speed of your phone, or the battery level of your phone, to tell you are the kind of person who often lets your phone run down, for example, or who your real mobile operator is. All of that kind of information starts adding up to create a profile that allows their advertisers to target you more precisely.

Ramela: Is it just WhatsApp, or are there plenty of other applications that actually do this? Dies it really matter.

Goldstuck: If you consider the extent to which you have been giving permission to Google over the years, then you could say that it does not make a difference because, if you use an Android phone, really Google has access to all your phone information and your current behaviour – not the contents, but certainly the activity. And then if you combine that with Google Search, for example, and Gmail and Google Maps and YouTube, suddenly they have a vast picture of who you are, what you search for, and what you buy. That is where you have really given up your privacy. So, it is the same situation that applies now with Facebook and WhatsApp and Instagram, combining all the data on you so they start taking a big picture.  So, to avoid that, you have got to go to a completely independent messaging app.

Ramela: Facebook has been hacked on a number of occasions. A lot of people are also worried about privacy in terms of security.

Goldstuck: Security of the contents of your messages tends not to be an issue. It is the security of your personal data that becomes an issue. Facebook has not plugged the hole that allowed hackers, for example, to send you a link pretending, for example, that it is a video that includes something about you, or something embarrassing about you. You click on that link and what you really do is give permission to access your account, and that then starts giving access to deeper levels of information about you. Ultimately, they are looking for bank-account information and the ability to access your financial data as well as the actual money.

Ramela: What are the alternatives?

Goldstuck: Of two alternatives on the market at the moment the best known one is Telegram, which was started by Russian developers and in fact is not what you might call a pro-Russian app, because the Russian authorities banned it for two years because they refused to co-operate with them. That is perhaps the most widely used of the more secure apps. It does not share your information with any other application, so it does not allow any advertisers to build up a profile about you. You also have a desktop version of it, for example. So that is a little trick that WhatsApp introduced not too long ago.

The other big one is Signal. Signal was developed by, among others, the person who created WhatsApp, so he understands what it takes to create this kind of application, but also what the issues were. The reason that he left Facebook was because he disagreed with the direction of WhatsApp. And Signal is partly in response to that. So Signal is probably the most secure and the least likely to share your information or make your information available to any other application.

Ramela: Who is regulating all of these social media platforms in terms of making sure that users’ data is not abused, if you will.

Goldstuck: Here is the real problem. Regulators have been asleep at the wheel because it is technology and regulators tend to be the establishment’s real old-timers, even running governments around the world. They tend to have the courts behind the times in terms of the significance of these apps and also how widespread their use is. Only now, for example, are American antitrust authorities starting to look at the issue of whether Facebook should be allowed to integrate Instagram into its services. Because Instagram goes way back to 2011, at that stage the transaction was approved because the regulators had no idea of its significance.

The same with WhatsApp in 2014. So, Facebook is now arguing, hey, this is a moot issue because you already gave us approval back then. The difference is back then they had no idea of the extent to which so much information could be aggregated across all of these apps.

Ramela: Interesting. It has got a lot of people talking, and we will see what happens come February 8, whether people will leave or stay with WhatsApp.

Greener pastures?

So where to from here? It does sound a bit dodgy that Facebook does not want to read your messages but wants to access our personal information such as contact lists and geolocations.

So, what are the alternatives? There are two that seem to be very popular in South Africa, and one that may prove to be popular going forward. A recent article by the Indian Express discussed these in detail.

Signal

The article points out that, currently, the best alternative to WhatsApp if one were to consider the security features and the fact that this is run by a non-profit firm.

-  Security Features. It has end-to-end encryption based on the Signal protocol, built by American cryptographer Moxie Marlinspike, who is also the CEO of Signal. It means no third-party or even Signal can read your messages. The Signal protocol is open source, which is another good thing. Signal does not support third-party backups either, which is actually a good thing. All data remains stored locally on the device, and if you do lose access to the device and try to set up Signal on another phone, your previous chat history is lost;

-  Cross-Platform. Yes, the private messaging app can be used across platforms from Android, iOS, iPad, Mac, Windows and Linux as well. Signal is quite easy to use. The app shows the name of the contacts that are on Signal, which makes it easy for you to connect;

-  Free or paid? Ads? Signal is totally free. The app is run by a non-profit. Former WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton helped found the Signal foundation along with Marlinspike, and has also poured in $50 million to fund the app. It does not sell your data or monetise it and does not have advertisements;

-  Groups, video, and audio calls. Yes, it supports Group features with a maximum of 150 members. It has recently added Group video calls. The app also supports regular video and audio calls, which are also end-to-end encrypted;

-  Disappearing Messages. Yes, you can turn on disappearing messages for each chat, which is great. The time can be set by you ranging from five seconds to one week;

-  Screen Lock, Other features. Yes, there is a screen lock feature. You can also set a PIN to the Signal account to keep your account secure. There is also an incognito keyboard option, which basically does not allow your keyboard to save what you are typing. Other features include fingerprint lock, read Receipts, location sharing, relay calls, archive chats, and more. There is also a feature called Message Requests, which gives you the option to block, delete, or accept messages from an unknown person. Signal lets you react to any message with emojis. You also get the option to not allow a user to take chat screenshots. In order to add anyone in a group, the individual will be required to accept the group invitation, unlike WhatsApp. The storage management of the app is really good and quite similar to WhatsApp. You can clear messages, remove videos or images, and check different files in the storage management tool;

-  Data collected. The key priority of Signal is user privacy, which is why the app does not collect any user data, as per the privacy labels provided on the App Store. The app only stores your phone number or contact information.  When it comes to data collection, this is one of the most minimal apps out there. You can learn more about the Signal app here.

Telegram

The Indian Express article adds that Telegram is another popular alternative Whatsapp and you will likely find a lot of your friends there. A user will not really find it difficult to switch to this app as it is simple to use and has most of the WhatsApp users. In fact, some of the Telegram features are not present in WhatsApp.

-  Security features. Telegram is encrypted, and it is open source, though in the past issues have been raised about its encryption. While normal chats are not end-to-end encrypted, as they are on Signal and WhatsApp, if you start a secret chat on Telegram, it is secured and does not get saved. You can also set a timer to destruct these secret chat messages. To protect the data that is not covered by end-to-end encryption, the company uses a distributed infrastructure. Regarding the issue over end-to-end encryption, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov wrote in a blog, “We rely on our own distributed cross-jurisdictional encrypted cloud storage which we believe is much more protected,” compared to say Apple or Google;

-  Cross-platform. Yes, it is a cross-platform app, which is available on Android, iOS, Mac, Windows. Given it relies on its own cloud backup, Telegram ensures that when you set up the app on a different device, the entire chat history is retained;

-  Free or paid? Ads? Telegram is free. It is an ad-free service for now. But Telegram recently announced its monetisation plans as the company says the project of this “size needs at least a few hundred million dollars per year to keep going.” The service also confirmed that the advertisement interface will be user-friendly, and it will respect user’s privacy, which means no data will be taken. As per Telegram, it will soon launch premium features for business or power users. The current features will remain free for all the Telegram users, but the new ones might fall in the premium plan. The company will also add ads in massive public channels. Note that one-on-one and private group chats will not have ads;

-  Groups, video, and audio calls. Telegram is really popular for groups and allows more than 200,000 users in a group. It also supports audio and video calls as well. Interestingly all video calls are end-to-end encrypted;

-  Disappearing Messages. Disappearing messages are part of the Secret Chat feature and you can set a timer for messages. The time range offered is one second to one week;

-  Screen Lock, Other Features. The best part about Telegram is it is a cloud service, which is why you do not need to worry about backing up chats to other servers to restore them on a new device. With Telegram, you can access your data from any of your devices as the data is synchronised across all your registered devices through cloud-based service. The good part about Telegram is you can send up to 1.5GB of files, create channels, add up to 2 lakh users in a group, forward files without downloading them, schedule messages, archive chats, and more. Telegram allows users to find anyone by username or phone number. Further users can edit messages as well. Telegram even displays the name of the original source from where you have forwarded a message and once you tap on it, you will be redirected to that group or channel. Telegram supports Picture-in-Picture mode, which means that you can video call while using other apps like Instagram. On Telegram, a group admin can set different permissions for every user. Telegram offers really cool and fun animated stickers, which you will not find on any other messaging app. In order to create an account, you just need to provide your mobile number and some basic information;

-  Data collected. The data collected by Telegram includes name, phone number, contacts, and user ID, according to the privacy label on the Apple App Store.

Viber

Viber is the wild card in the South African market as it has not received massive amount of airtime in terms of an attractive alternative to Whatsapp. However, the Indian Express article points out that it may be more attractive than we think.

-  Security Features. This is yet another privacy messenger app, which supports end-to-end encryption. All types of messages, photos, videos, voice and video calls and group chats are encrypted. The company says that everyone will have to make sure that they are using the latest version of Viber to get maximum protection. Similar to WhatsApp, all your chats can be backed up to Google Drive, from where you can restore your chats. Viber says that once you upload your chats to Google, it will not be responsible for your data protection and privacy will depend on Google’s policy;

-  Cross-Platform. Yes, Viber can be used across platforms from Android, iOS, and Windows as well;

-  Free or paid? Ads? Like all the other apps, Viber is also free. However, you will witness a few ads in the popular messaging app. The company says, “Showing you these tailored and relevant offers help us keep the app free for you to use.” “Since we do not have access to your chats, neither advertising providers nor brands can access your chats. The content of your chats stays in your chats always and never will be used for showing your relevant ads,” Viber said in a blog post;

-  Groups, video, and audio calls. Yes, it supports Group features with up to 250 members. One can only add members by sending an invitation to a Viber user. This feature works similar to Signal. The app also supports regular video and audio calls that are also end-to-end encrypted;

-  Disappearing Messages. Similar to Telegram, you get a secret chat mode here too. You can set the timer, and screenshot/forwarding feature is disabled. The time can be set by you ranging from one second to one week;

-  Screen Lock, Other features. The screen lock feature is available, but not for the mobile version. You can send stickers and GIFs, delete, or edit messages, share location, voice messages, and share files. You can create your own GIF, search, and send YouTube videos in the app itself and do a lot of other things. However, the privacy features that Signal offers are not present in both Telegram and Viber;

-  What data does Viber collect? Viber collects location and device ID identifiers. It also collects device ID identifiers. It collects phone numbers, user ID, product interaction, purchase history, other contact information such as email ID, name, and contacts.

In the end, privacy matters

Privacy does matter. We want to be able to use these social media platforms confident that we can do so without any concerns about where Big Brother is watching. Privacy does matter.

There are a few interesting questions that need to be asked at this juncture.

The first is, can we live without Facebook and other social media platforms in the modern age? While there are a lot of people in the world without a social media presence at all, there is a reason why Facebook has so many users. If Facebook were a country, it would be the third most populous country in the world. Facebook is mostly used to communicate with people in far flung corners of the world, to provide people with a platform to publicise their lives (vomit), and for people to consume news. It is also increasingly being used for people to do business and to connect with small businesses. If this is the case, why does Facebook have such an obsession with a free user model. Let us answer this. Facebooks current user base is 2,7 billion users. If Facebook charged its users $0.50 a year, it would generate an annual income of close to $1,3 billion. This is significantly less than what it made from advertising revenue in 2019, which was $69 billion. To get close to the last benchmark, Facebook would either have to reach 7 billion users, which is impossible considering that the world population is 8 billion (as of 2020), or it would have to charge its 2,7 billion users about $25/year.

Therefore, the advertising model is significantly more profitable. So how long will Facebook get away with this. In order to get more advertising revenue, advertising needs to be more relevant. In order for it to be more relevant, it needs to be targeted. In order for it to be targeted, it needs data.

Facebook could just ask people about what their expectations are when it comes to advertising. But would they get a genuine answer? No. They only way to guarantee proper data is to use the methods discussed earlier in the blog. So, when will Facebook finally stop this? When the US will finally catches up with the rest of the world and entrenches the right of privacy as a Constitutional Right thereby forcing Facebook to take data privacy seriously. The UK led this with the GDPR, and many countries followed in its wake. By entrenching this right into the constitution, you are guaranteeing that companies cannot take advantage of the public’s right to privacy and it is punishable by law. Companies who do not comply with the GDPR face massive fines and a restraint of trade that is debilitating. A recent report showed that Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) has fined Twitter €450 000 (around $546 000) over a data breach it disclosed back in January 2019, the regulator announced today. The security flaw exposed some supposedly private tweets from the service’s Android users for over four years. Twitter was found to have violated the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) because it failed to notify the regulator within 72 hours of discovering the breach, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The fine is notable because it is the first time a US tech giant has been hit with a GDPR fine in a cross-border case, meaning one in which the Irish regulator consulted its EU counterparts as part of the decision. The investigation was headed by Ireland’s DPC because Ireland is where Twitter’s international headquarters are based.

The major problem

There are a few problems which sees Facebook, and Whatsapp, sitting in the pound seats.

The first is that Whatsapp are technically not doing anything wrong. Whatsapp is owned by Facebook and until the US has privacy laws which governs what companies can do with private data, companies will do what they like because they are not breaking any laws. Further, Whatsapp is telling you that this is happening and that you have to agree to these new updates (opt in), failure to do so will see you deleted from Whatsapp (forcibly opted out). This is taking compliance to a new level.

The second problem is that almost half of the world’s population uses Whatsapp. Teleporting all of your contacts to a single platform is going to be a mission. The strength of Whatsapp – and they know this – is that the public has proven that Whatsapp is the best messaging software in the market, and until another platform can make same claim, the userbase will be fragmented in terms of multiplatform as opposed to the current single platform we see now. People also do not like having to communicate with half of their contacts on platform and half on another, so we will probably see a lot of people accepting the new terms come February 8.

What is the fuss about?

What is Facebook going to try and do with this information? Sell you stuff? Put more adverts on your timeline for stuff that you never told Facebook you were looking for? I have been doing some research for my wife on my birthday present for this year and guess what, Facebook placed adverts for those items on my timeline. So, Facebook does not need Whatsapp to spy on people. People would also like to think that their data is not being used in advertising. The spoiler alert here is that Facebook and Google are using your data for targeted ads.

People are also waiting in anticipation for smart devices that help you live your life. Run out of milk, your fridge will send you a message about this and will inform you about all of the specials that grocery stores are having regarding milk. Will these devices not be using your data for targeted advertising purposes? Will it be ok for these advertisements to be targeted but others not? MMMMM…

Data is running the world. It is what is making technology smarter, more convenient and life changing. Yes, companies will be chomping at the bit to get hold of this kind of data, and that may not be a bad thing. Would you rather see 100 worthless advertisements on your Facebook timeline of items that you do not actually want, or would you rather see 10 advertisements about things that you want and will make a difference in your life? And if you have such an issue with how Facebook uses your data, delete Facebook. Whatsapp is just doing what its owner is telling it to do. 

Welcome back from the Festive Season break. GTconsult would like to take this opportunity to wish all of its employees, clients, and business partners all the best for 2021.

I have no doubt in my mind that there not one single person who can comfortably say that Covid-19 did not impact their lives in some way or another. From remote work to self isolation and the loss of many family members and loved ones, 2020 is a year that most people will want to forget.

There are a lot of people who are very optimistic about 2021. While optimism is goo, there is a fine line between being optimistic and unrealistically so. Most if the world is dealing with a second wave of Covid-19 infections, and until a viable vaccine is produced, the first half of 2021 may just be the third episode of 2020.

Fortunately, tech is changing the world and is making it easier to do your job. With the South African governments plans to increase access to spectrum, we are positioning ourselves as a country that could find itself at the epicentre of the explosion of the Gig Economy in Africa.

Tech will obviously play an important part in this and I read a few interesting articles about the tech that will shape the world in 2021.

A massive step

We will start in India which has long been a country that has been at the forefront of digital innovation. The Indian Express points out that some of the tech that will shape the future will be a massive step for mankind.

The article points out that We will be pushing the envelope in optimism if we expect to be back in office soon. Even with a vaccine, work from home has got acceptance across the world and businesses have not really seen a drop in productivity. So if last year #WFH was an act of desperation, in the new year you will see more technologies that act as enablers for remote employment at scale. We already have a host of companies that help collaboration among colleagues in real time, but we could see startups emerge with out-of-the-box ideas on creating virtual offices that take away the requirement for being in a physical space.

There is already lot of talk about extended reality, or XR, being extended to fill the gaps in our work environment. XR is a mix of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) that combine the realms of the real and virtual. In a few months, you could be back sitting next to your colleagues in office, though they are spread all over the country, thanks to a 5G-powered XR headset you are wearing to work from home. Or explaining a new project to customers in a virtual boardroom as they walk around scaled-down models, moving them with virtual swipes. Companies like Qualcomm are already close to this rather confusing reality, which is already used to train people before they get to work on high-value assets.

The article adds that then a lot of bells and whistles that are impacting the very experience of work from home could get polished. For instance, laptop makers might finally start making a Full HD camera a standard feature because it has suddenly become the most important feature in the device. You could also see laptops with wireless connectivity become more common as these try to unfetter from Wi-Fi and offer a connectivity backup to those working remotely. This is where 5G could become an important part of enterprises in the coming year.

Better homes

The article points out that as people the world over spend more time at home, there is a huge opportunity to offer them indoors what they are missing outside. This is why you could see a boost in how home entertainment technologies improve in the coming months. Television screens could become larger, offering immersive experiences and theatre-quality sound. We have already seen a bit of this with projectors that can create cinematic sound. This push will also come with increased affordability of better technologies. While this would mean curtains on many cinemas, new streaming services will try and cater to all kinds of content demands to cash in on the urge to be entertained.

A lot of the smart home technology so far has been worked around scenarios where the residents would want to control gadgets from their places of work. Now with all these users stuck inside the homes, smart home software will have to improvise and improve the experiences of people who have nowhere to go, keeping them entertained, informed and healthy.

Also, expect gaming to enter our homes like never before. And no, it will not be limited to the younger ones. The segment is already in the midst of a boom thanks to the pandemic and now there will be new consoles and services that make gaming the vent for all your indoor frustrations, irrespective of age.

Health for all

The article points out that your doctor is now more accessible than before, often just a tap away on an app. But these virtual consultations hit a hurdle as soon as there is a need to look at data. While smart watches and other gadgets now offer more data on different aspects of the user’s health and wellness, the quantified self is going to get more attention now. In early 2020, for instance, the Consumer Electronics Show had a lot on show around sleep technology. These products are now becoming available to people, tracking their vitals as they sleep and alerting them of anomalies as they wake up.

Expect more wearables and smart gadgets near your body keeping a tab in not just the vitals, but also alerting you of what could be the early symptom on an underlying condition. There will also be a lot more assistance in the wellness space, especially with stress management.

Boutique tech

The article adds that, as our dependence on technologies increases, at least those who can afford it will start pulling out of the mainstream to subscription-based services that are niche, but offer a better quality and experience because of this. Companies are already working on products that offer a different experience from what the Internet offers for free. So you will see companies like Neeva that offer an ad-free search service and more publishers and production houses offer premium content behind a paywall.

The movement towards niches will also be a reaction to big tech, which is slowly losing user trust. While governments try to regulate how big and powerful these companies can be, the lack of trust is already moving users to scaled down environments where they are more confident of not being exploited as just a data binary.

Intelligent data

The article points out that, while we have been hearing about artificial intelligence for decades, the pandemic has presented these models with use cases at unprecedented scale. As countries try to figure out how to vaccinate sizeable chunks of their populations, intelligent systems like IBM’s Watson will come into play in helping figure out the rollout of the vaccines. Since we are literally talking about everyone in the world, these are not figures that are easily manageable without help of AI-driven models. And it is not just about the vaccines: AI is already being used to alert about new Covid-18 hotspots based on early trends that are plotted against patterns seen elsewhere. Also, when there will be the question of how to tackle the surge in information demand from people as vaccinations starts, here too it could be computers that answer queries because of the sheer scale.

A new set of gadgets

the Indian Express article ends off by predicting what may change when it comes to gadgets. 2020 has been a weird year of makers of smartphones and other technologies. After a few weeks when sales dried up, most experienced a surge because of the pent-up demand. There was also the new opportunity created by online education. At the same time, a lot of the product thinking went out the window at least for a couple of years as it went down in the priority list.

In 2021, expect smartphones and all other devices to pack more computing power because that will be what they need to focus on, more than cameras and battery life — which are not such big pain points if you are not stepping out. With Apple entering the silicon space with its M1 processor, you will see the personal computing segment undergo some revolutionary changes with rivals trying their best to catch on the processing power and battery life this new entrant can offer. So by end of the year, expect more laptops to offer all-day battery life.

You will see folding, rolling, swivelling smartphones in the new year too, but they will stay well within the fringes and the consumers will be more bothered about the devices that will work long hours without tiring, offering good screen clarity and front cameras for video calls. There will also be a spate of affordable computing devices that try and offer a viable alternative to the budget smartphone that is now being used for online education in many households. Clearly the focus will be on the functional and not the gimmicky.

An article on livemint.com has pointed to the fact that the Covid-19 pandemic has inspired tech innovation.

The article pointed out that one key area, better webcams for our constant video calling, was significant. Samsung has already announced that its forthcoming Galaxy smartphone, expected in early 2021, will improve video recording and calling. We anticipate laptop makers will do the same and finally ditch their crappy, low-resolution webcams.

Portable versions of UV sanitizers for cleaning your phones and gadgets are on the way to keep in your car or your pocket. Another thing we may eventually never leave home without? High-tech masks. Expect a range of built-in features: Bluetooth and microphones (see Maskfone), a fan-powered wearable air purifier (see LG PuriCare), a mask with a UV LED (see the UV Mask). Look for air-quality sensors, contact-tracing assistance and more.

Laptops Arm Up

The article pointed out that, suddenly, laptops aren’t the most boring gadget in the world. Our reliance on them for at-home work and school spurred demand the category hadn’t seen in years. (“Children, let me tell you about the Great Chromebook Shortage of 2020.") Then, in November, Apple released a MacBook Air and MacBook Pro that ditched Intel inside for Apple’s own M1 chips. The result? Machines that have never been so quiet and cool, and lasted so long on one charge.

The move from chips based on Intel’s x86 architecture to ones based on lower-powered Arm technology, like the ones inside phones, is setting the entire computing industry on a new course. Lenovo, Acer and Microsoft have begun releasing Windows or Chrome OS laptops with chips from Qualcomm, whose processors power the most popular Android phones. This will only accelerate in the coming year, with nearly every major Windows PC maker working with Qualcomm on laptops and some models even gaining 5G, said Qualcomm President Cristiano Amon.

The article added that Apple, which plans to transition its entire Mac lineup to its own processors by 2022, is also expected to release a long-anticipated new iMac, among other things. And it won’t come as a surprise when more tech giants, including Amazon and Microsoft, embrace their own custom chips in everything from laptops to servers to wearables.

Reality: Assisted, Not Augmented

Remember the ambitious Google Glass concept. The world was either so excited for it that they were prepared to invest heavily in a pair, or the world was bemoaning how tech was becoming massively intrusive.

Ultimately, the Google Glass project failed, but that didn’t mean the end for artificial intelligence (AI). The Live Mint article rightly points out that AI will only get better over the years. When will Apple release a pair of smart glasses? Probably not 2021. And while Google made a big step in this category this summer by acquiring North, a pioneer in projection glasses, it canceled the second version of North’s glasses as it plots its future. It’s actually Facebook that declared it will launch smart glasses in 2021—and they’ll be Ray Bans.

Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerbergsaid in September these glasses will be “the next step on the road to augmented reality." They won’t feature virtual objects that appear to interact with the real world. AR headsets like Microsoft’s HoloLens might deliver an immersive experience, but they’re still expensive and cumbersome.

The article adds that assisted reality glasses—which project text, images and even video feeds into a person’s field of view—are of more value now, says Brian Ballard, CEO of remote-expertise company Upskill. Businesses have found utility in remote video conferencing that hovers in workers’ field of view, or turn-by-turn directions they don’t have to look down to follow.

E-commerce ≠ Amazon

The article pointed out that the pandemic packed 10 years of consumer e-commerce adoption into a single quarter, and forced every company that wasn’t Amazon—especially those with large retail footprints—to scramble to offer consumers new and better ways to shop from home.

Target saw an explosion in curbside pickup from online orders, while warehouse retailer Costco reported unprecedented growth in e-commerce. Walmart launched a Prime-like membership program called Walmart+, and rapidly added features to keep up the competition. (Walmart recently eliminated order minimums and shipping fees on Walmart.com orders, and provides no-fee delivery on grocery carts totaling $35 or more.) Shopify, which powers payments for many small businesses online, expanded its own network of fulfillment centers so those businesses could get goods to customers more quickly and efficiently, without turning to Amazon.

The article added that, now that fast, free shipping is table stakes and retailers recognize they won’t see the foot traffic they counted on pre-pandemic, consumers finally get an online version of an old retail staple: comparison shopping. In 2021, Amazon’s value proposition—that if it isn’t always the least expensive way to shop, it’s at least the most convenient—will be tested. Meanwhile, its market power—along with Google’s, Facebook’s and Apple’s—will continue to be the focus of regulatory scrutiny.

Return of the Trust Fall

Remember doing these exercises at work team building outings. You would spend a significant amount of time praying that you didn’t have to do this exercise with the creepy man/woman four desks down from you.

The Live Mint article points out that while remote work has many advantages, building trust between employees isn’t one of them. Online, there is no water cooler, no nearby coffee shop for informal brainstorms, no place to grab a drink after work. But companies whose employees worked remotely long before the pandemic already had a solution: the off-site retreat.

Buffer, a fully remote company, gets its entire, globe-spanning team together at least once a year. Dozens of other companies whose employees work mostly or entirely at home do the same thing, which has led to a cottage industry of firms that will plan these retreats for you.

The article adds that one reason companies have embraced remote work is that it makes employees happier, but another is that it saves companies money on office space. In 2021, expect to see many of the millions of employees who have permanently shifted to remote or hybrid work piling into party buses, doing group yoga and seeking inner peace in the presence of their bosses—for far less than the cost of the rent on the offices they left behind.

The platform contributor

We have given significant focus to the gadgets what with shape 2021, and the innovation that certain companies are planning, but we cannot forget the role that technology based platforms played in 2020 and the influence that they will have in 2021.

Blockchain

The article points out that it has taken a long time for blockchain to shift centre stage, but as people increasingly trust algorithms, which it’s based on, its time has come. Decentralised finance will continue to grow over the next few years because of the increased demand for online financial products, but it will need to continually address the balance between decentralisation, security and scalability.

Increasingly, government bodies are leveraging blockchain for their activities, moving from incredulity to embracing the technology. With this, we’re going to see regulation surrounding blockchain become ever more pronounced. Our client Block.one reported this year that Google Cloud is taking steps to become a network block producer, a sign that the world’s largest companies are committed to ensuring that information on public blockchains is secure. In five years time, using blockchain could feel about as edgy as banking with HSBC.

Customer learning experience

The article adds that consumer sales have seen major disruptions in 2020 due to Covid-19 and new restrictions the pandemic has brought to in-person interactions. Businesses have been pushed to accelerate adoption of digital solutions as replacements for traditional aspects of the sales cycle. Attracting and educating customers on the benefits of specific products and features has required a digital-first approach, with e-commerce solutions integrating video, webchat and even augmented reality.

For complex products that require training, including consumer electronics, automotives and software, companies are investing in Learning Management Systems - or tailored equivalents designed to meet the goals of their specific learning experience- to provide customers with instructive content. These LMS solutions allow businesses to create custom branded courseware, training programs, documentation and video guides to deliver complete digital learning experiences. The article adds that, with big data and analytics, companies can implement in-depth tracking of customers on their learning journeys to rapidly gain insights and improve their offerings.

As restrictions on in-person shopping and in-person learning begin to relax in the post-pandemic future, digital learning experiences for customers will continue to grow in popularity, with new opportunities to enhance e-commerce and post-purchase experiences.

Cloud-based tech

The article points out that the world shifted irreversibly in 2020 as so many of us migrated from our old workspaces to predominantly work from home. Beyonders scattered far and wide; I now head up technology from our Lisbon hub. That, of, course, is only possible with greater use of cloud-based technology, including workplace applications.

With the rise in ecommerce we’re seeing cloud-based platforms pushed and we’ll see their full potential through 2021 and beyond. Cloud native technology will continue to power digital transformation: by the end of 2021 60 per cent of companies will leverage containers on public cloud platforms and 25 per cent of developers will leverage serverless, according to predictions from ForresterNow Predictions 2021: Cloud Computing report.

The article adds that technology design is evolving in tandem and we’re building modular, composable architectures that can shift and transform in an agile way, not dissimilar to how we build multi platform, multi stack software. As Google Cloud Partners, we design our composable architectures with plenty of flexibility, but primarily with people in mind.

Cautious optimism

We mentioned at the beginning of the blog post that most people will need to manage their expectations of 2021. And this is not a bad thing as it is likely going to be a challenging year. However, there are some global tech leaders who feel that 2021 will be a good year for tech innovation.

Magdalena Balazinska, professor and director of the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington

How will this year’s events — the pandemic, social justice movements, economic recession — affect the technology industry in 2021? While the COVID-19 vaccines are rolling out and providing us with hope that 2021 will be a better year than 2020, we are not out of the woods yet and we should plan for 2021 being fundamentally a highly disrupted year.

That said, if we consider 2021 and perhaps a little beyond, I would say that:

-  2020 really demonstrated that working from home can be effective in many industries. I expect that the tech industry will be rethinking their long-term policies regarding working from home and hiring remote employees;

-  Diversity, equity, and inclusion will remain high priorities for the technology industry, and for academia;

-  The tech industry has contributed to polarization through the various social media platforms that we developed. Our next step in 2021 needs to be on developing tools to help bring people together;

-  The tech backlash is real. The industry needs to take this challenge seriously — to become a rising tide that lifts all boats, not just the captain’s barge.

Software engineers will increasingly question the technology they are developing and the business models of the companies they are working for. Graduates will consider not just the salary but also the type of product that a company is creating, their DEI statement, and more when they choose their employment.

Leslie Alexandre, president and CEO of Life Science Washington

What will be the most pressing issue facing the tech industry in 2021? Again, speaking from a biotech/life science perspective … we are witnessing breathtaking innovation in new treatments — and even some cures — for horrible diseases and conditions thanks to a new generation of platform technologies, such as gene editing and other cell therapies. These treatments are improving the quality of life for thousands of Americans every day, but come at a very high price tag, commensurate with the costs of their development.

As a society, if we want broad access to these life-saving treatments, we must figure out how to pay for them. And as an industry, we must come to the table with sound policy options that facilitate continued investment in innovation and a resolution to drug pricing issues that are becoming barriers to that investment.

Peter Lee, CVP of Research and Incubations at Microsoft

The most overhyped technology of 2021: I guess three of the technologies that are always mentioned on these “most overhyped” lists are blockchain, virtual reality, and self-driving cars. Blockchain and VR are getting a lot of new hype, with blockchain mentioned in areas like vaccine credentials, and VR to make home isolation more fun. But as great as they are, both probably need more time to flip from hype to hot. And self-driving cars, well, while we may actually see some really interesting products hit the market in 2021, there is a lot less driving going on nowadays. We’ll want to revisit all three in 2022…

Advice to startups and entrepreneurs for 2021: Think of the three phases of a global crisis: Response – Recovery – Resilience. If 2020 was about Response, 2021 will be about Recovery. Your company/investment needs to be relevant to that. But even more important is to think about the technologies you are developing for the next long phase, which is about Resilience for the future.

GTconsults view

From a GTconsult perspective, we are convinced that Cloud Computing and AI will be big innovators during the year. With this comes the need to increasingly trust technology and see it as innovative and enabling rather than intrusive and overbearing. We applaud Governments view on spectrum and hope that this project can gain significant momentum. This will see new tech startups and entrepreneurs who can not only grow our economy, but provide a future for their families.

We also hope that technology will improve access to healthcare as well as innovative ways to diagnose and treat diseases. We are seeing how tech is playing a role in the Covid-19 vaccine, but we need to see these advancements take place more rapidly.

Finally, technology must play a role in education. We have already seen the beginning of it in remote teaching and many students have adapted well to the new normal that has been placed on them. We now need to advance this. Coding needs to be taught at school and students need to be given the skills to prosper in the Gig Economy. If we can get this right, 2021 will be a good year. 

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This is the last week of Cyber Security Awareness Month, and hopefully you have navigated it with any incident.

Risk management plays an important role in the financial services industry. Insurers and credit providers take a serious look at risk and invest a lot of time and capital in developing models that will address the identified risk. It gives them an idea of where they are and where they need to be. Its true benefit can be seen in achieving identified deliverables.

Risk management also plays a significant role in the technology industry. However, because of the nature of the evolution of this risk, models need to be fluid and have to be extremely adaptable.

Serious complexity

Let’s revisit the financial services industry for a second. The reason why risk management plays an important role in this industry is that it is an effective way to address risk. This is only true because the risks that the industry faces haven’t changed much over the past ten years. The reason why risk management in the technology space becomes a challenge is because cyber security is seriously complex.

The article points out that consumers, businesses, and entire systems all over the world are under threat on a daily basis. Valuable personal and financial information is exposed and ready for the taking. Simple tasks like using a credit card, a phone, or a computer provide an opportunity to take our money, our identities, and your ways of life. Data breaches are capable of rendering large, powerful companies vulnerable.

As the world evolved and became more technological, attacks evolved along with the new developments.

A new window to climb through

The article points out that when humans learned to domesticate animals and grow food, larger settlements were established and societies started to flourish in multiple locations across the world.

Sedentary societies then placed value not only in food and clothing, but in things such as cattle, crops, land, houses, and machinery.

Commerce was created, value was placed on a new concept - money. Goods were then exchanged for precious metals such as gold, silver, and bronze in the form of coins and paper money years later.

The article adds that the value of money prompted societies to create impenetrable fortresses and sophisticated vaults to keep valuables away from the hands of criminals.  As societies became more complex, both crime and remediation efforts evolved along with them. Before the rise of computers, trespasses were much easier to prevent. All we had to do was keep a door locked. The internet has given a new window to climb through for digital assets.

This tells us that security has also evolved alongside attacks to give rise to holistic security. Today, digital assets have the highest value. Our neighbourhood is now the entire globe. In response to this new type of cyber criminal, organizations have developed an equally evolved security system.

Be prepared!

The article points out that, because of our daily interaction with connected devices, computers, smartphones, and tablets, it’s important that everyone - from the CEO and software developers to suppliers and employees - to be aware. Everyone can play an important part in keeping information safe.

The article adds that ransomware has become a headache for businesses and individuals alike. This type of attack can hold data hostage via encryption, which is the process of converting data into unreadable code to prevent access, until the victim pays a large amount of money to get the description keys. Organizations can fall victim to ransomware through drive-by downloads and phishing emails. Millions of people around the world reported encounters with ransomware.

While attackers are finding new, innovative ways to threaten the security of an organization, holistic and complete security will give enterprises a chance to fight against any attack and protect their data.

The article points out that everyone in the company should have the following questions in mind:

-  CEOs; how secure is your company? What risks are you exposed to?

-  Technical Teams; how can you make data easy and accessible to your team without compromising security?

-  Product Owners; at what stage do you integrate security? And

-  Employees; what is your role in cybersecurity? What can you do to protect your company’s data?

The article pointed out that it is important for cybersecurity to be a company-wide approach - a combination of people, processes and tools. Organizations should develop security operation centres, which are intelligence-led and are focused on creating high-level defence, cyber hygiene, education, and awareness.

The goal? To stress-test your systems, identify, contain and remediate the negative impact fast.

Cyber literacy

When my parents were at school, my mom had to do typing lessons as a school subject. It was the same for me when I was at school where a module of Computer Literacy Classes focused on typing. Spoiler alert, I still type with a single finger on each hand looking at the keyboard the whole time.

We digress. There is a significant push for subject matter such as coding and cyber security to be included in computer literacy classes in classrooms around the world. Cyber risk literacy should be part of every defensive strategy.

The article points out that while almost 95% of cybersecurity issues can be traced back to human error, such as accidentally clicking on a malicious link, most governments have not invested enough to educate their citizens about the risks, according to a report from the Oliver Wyman Forum.

Cyber risk literacy of the population

The article adds that cyber literacy, along with financial literacy, is a new 21^st century priority for governments, educational institutions, and businesses.

“Cyberattacks are now one of the fastest growing crimes globally and are expected to cost organizations more than $600 billion dollars a year by 2021,” Paul Mee of the Oliver Wyman Forum told helpnetsecurity.com.

“The situation has become even more pressing during the pandemic as our reliance on the internet has grown. Yet many citizens still lack the basic skills to keep themselves, their communities, and their employers safe.”

Fifty geographies were assessed, including the European Union, on the present cyber risk literacy of its population, and the nature of related education and training available to promote and enable future cyber risk literacy.

The article points out that the index measures five key drivers of cyber risk literacy and education: the public’s motivation to practice good cybersecurity hygiene; government policies to improve cyber literacy; how well cyber risks are addressed by education systems; how well businesses are raising their employees cyber skills, and the degree to which digital access and skills are shared broadly within the population.

How are assessed countries doing?

The article added that Switzerland, Singapore and the UK topped the list because of their strong government policies, education systems and training, practical follow through and metrics as well as population motivation to reduce risk.

Switzerland, the number one ranked country, has a comprehensive implementation document that lays out specific responsibilities along with what national or provincial legislation is required. Specific milestones are set, and timelines are assigned to ensure accountability regardless of who oversees the government.

Singapore, which is ranked second, has prioritized cybersecurity education efforts from early childhood to retirees. It established the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore to keep its cyberspace safe and secure. Its cyber wellness courses occur over multiple grades and focus on social and practical safety tips such as understanding cyber bullying.

The article pointed out that The UK ranked third, has the most integrated cyber system because it incorporates cyber risk into both primary and secondary education. The UK’s National Cyber Security Strategy of 2016-2021 is also one of the strongest plans globally. The US ranked 10th.

Countries that rank lower lack an overall national strategy and fail to emphasize cyber risk in schools. Some countries in emerging markets are only beginning to identify cybersecurity as a national concern.

“Governments that want to improve the cyber risk literacy of their citizens can use the index to strengthen their strategy by way of adopting new mindsets, trainings, messaging, accessibility and best practices,” Mee told helpnetsecurity.com. “With most children using the internet by the age of four, it is never too early to start teaching your citizens to protect themselves.”

Problematic issues

Another article by helpnetsecurity.com pointed out that cybersecurity is failing due to ineffective technology.

A failing cybersecurity market is contributing to ineffective performance of cybersecurity technology, a Debate Security research reveals.

The article pointed out that, based on over 100 comprehensive interviews with business and cybersecurity leaders from large enterprises, together with vendors, assessment organizations, government agencies, industry associations and regulators, the research shines a light on why technology vendors are not incentivized to deliver products that are more effective at reducing cyber risk.

The report supports the view that efficacy problems in the cybersecurity market are primarily due to economic issues, not technological ones. The research addresses three key themes and ultimately arrives at a consensus for how to approach a new model.

Cybersecurity technology is not as effective as it should be

The article pointed out that 90% of participants reported that cybersecurity technology is not as effective as it should be when it comes to protecting organizations from cyber risk. Trust in technology to deliver on its promises is low, and yet when asked how organizations evaluate cybersecurity technology efficacy and performance, there was not a single common definition.

Pressure has been placed on improving people and process related issues, but ineffective technology has become accepted as normal – and shamefully – inevitable.

The underlying problem is one of economics, not technology

The article added that 92% of participants reported that there is a breakdown in the market relationship between buyers and vendors, with many seeing deep-seated information asymmetries.

Outside government, few buyers today use detailed, independent cybersecurity efficacy assessment as part of their cybersecurity procurement process, and not even the largest organizations reported having the resources to conduct all the assessments themselves.

As a result, vendors are incentivized to focus on other product features, and on marketing, deprioritizing cybersecurity technology efficacy – one of several classic signs of a “market for lemons”.

Coordinated action between stakeholders only achieved through regulation

The article pointed out that, unless buyers demand greater efficacy, regulation may be the only way to address the issue. Overcoming first-mover disadvantages will be critical to fixing the broken cybersecurity technology market.

Many research participants believe that coordinated action between all stakeholders can only be achieved through regulation – though some hold out hope that coordination could be achieved through sectoral associations.

The article added that, in either case, 70% of respondents feel that independent, transparent assessment of technology would help solve the market breakdown. Setting standards on technology assessment rather than on technology itself could prevent stifling innovation.

Defining cybersecurity technology efficacy

The article pointed out that participants in this research broadly agree that four characteristics are required to comprehensively define cybersecurity technology efficacy.

To be effective, cybersecurity solutions need to have the capability to deliver the stated security mission (be fit-for-purpose), have the practicality that enterprises need to implement, integrate, operate and maintain them (be fit-for-use), have the quality in design and build to avoid vulnerabilities and negative impact, and the provenance in the vendor company, its people and supply chain such that these do not introduce additional security risk.

“In cybersecurity right now, trust doesn’t always sell, and good security doesn’t always sell and isn’t always easy to buy. That’s a real problem,” Ciaran Martin, Advisory Board Member at Garrison Technology told helpnetsecurity.com.

“Why we’re in this position is a bit of a mystery. This report helps us understand it. Fixing the problem is harder. But our species has fixed harder problems and we badly need the debate this report calls for, and industry-led action to follow it up.”

“Company boards are well aware that cybersecurity poses potentially existential risk, but are generally not well equipped to provide oversight on matters of technical detail,” John Cryan, Chairman Man Group told helpnetsecurity.com.

“Boards are much better equipped when it comes to the issues of incentives and market dynamics revealed by this research. Even if government regulation proves inevitable, I would encourage business leaders to consider these findings and to determine how, as buyers, corporates can best ensure that cybersecurity solutions offered by the market are fit for purpose.”

“As a technologist and developer of cybersecurity products, I really feel for cybersecurity professionals who are faced with significant challenges when trying to select effective technologies,” said Henry Harrison, CSO of Garrison Technology told helpnetsecurity.com.

“We see two noticeable differences when selling to our two classes of prospects. For security-sensitive government customers, technology efficacy assessment is central to buying behaviour – but we rarely see anything similar when dealing with even the most security-sensitive commercial customers. We take from this study that in many cases this has less to do with differing risk appetites and more to do with structural market issues.”

Be cyber smart

Cyber security is advancing at a rapid rate. Companies are no longer able to keep a constant eye on their employees and offer the protection that they need. a measure of this responsibility rests on the shoulders of those below board level.

Use a strong password

The article points out that having to manage a large number of applications and software, the easiest option for most users would be to pick a password that is easy to remember, and then apply it across the board.

While this might be a convenient option, it is definitely not the safest. Cybercriminals these days use tools that sniff out passwords reused on other sites to make their work easier and to make the stolen passwords and data more lucrative on the dark web. Hence, it is recommended that you choose strong passwords, using different alpha-numerical combinations, as well as change them periodically.

Opt for two factor authentication

The article adds that the rule of thumb should be when creating any digital account, always set up two-factor authentication (2FA).

It’s a common practice to login to accounts using multiple devices, most often of colleagues, or people we trust. Just trusting the person is never enough. It is their machines that you must trust. In case, you have logged into a network on a PC with malware, you are essentially letting cybercriminals access your data. In such cases, having 2FA, helps to prevent egregious attacks where a cybercriminal tries to login to your account and steal your data.

Safeguard your entry points

The article points out that all it takes is one weak entry point, to allow a cybercriminal access to your entire network.

By forgetting to close down the access points that are not being used, this can be an open door for hackers to enter, and place malware on to your network.

Lookout for signs of a scam

The article points out that phishing attacks have become increasingly common these days, and are using several tactics to target vulnerable users. At the same time, there are often several tell-tale signs of a scam in the making, which you can easily spot, if you keep a sharp lookout for them. For example, emails with improper grammar, and spelling mistakes are one of the biggest giveaways. Additionally, links that promise freebies and then request you to enter card details too are illegitimate.

Frequently update your system

The article adds that inexpensive home internet devices are prime targets for hackers. A best practice is to update these frequently, and apply all security patches quickly. In the case of older devices, which no longer receive firmware updates, they should be immediately switched out for newer models, to prevent hackers from controlling traffic through routers, and implementing various attacks.

Cybercrime is advancing at a rate which we can no longer afford to take lightly, or ignore. No organization or user today can be considered too small to be a potential victim, hence there is a strong need to create awareness on phishing or targeted attacks. Furthermore, the increased dependence on technology to stay connected, and ensure business continuity, has opened the floodgates to a whole new set of potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities that users must be conscious of. By practising these simple tips and maintaining good IT hygiene, we can be cybersmart, and safe on the internet.

There are other helpful, yet simple, tips to follow:

- increase your online privacy. Protect your online accounts by implementing multifactor authentication and using strong passwords, which consist of letters, numbers and special characters. Individuals should also refrain from accessing banking information or making online purchases when connected to an unsecured public network;

- stay secure while you work. As more employees work virtually during the COVID-19 crisis, they should be more vigilant about internet scams and online fraud. Business and personal information should be treated with the same care; avoid sharing it with unfamiliar parties or over unsecured networks. It is important to keep the security software on your business devices up to date, because only one employee needs to be compromised for an entire organization to experience a data breach;

- use social media responsibly. Social media is a great way to connect with friends and family, but it can also allow scammers and cybercriminals to target you. Only accept friend requests from people you trust, avoid clicking links in messages from strangers, and refrain from posting your personal information online. Remember to be careful about what you share. Remember, there is no “delete” button online.

“The responsibility to fight cyber crime is upon all of us. We cannot stand back and say that it should be an issue that needs to be tackled at board level. We are all exposed and we can all take a stand against this. Simple interventions, and being aware, can definitely go a long way to address this. Are you going to play an active role?” asks Craig Tarr, CEO of GTconsult.