Contact Tracing and Privacy – What You Need to Know
By Matt Brennan
How to provide proper contact tracing and privacy measures during a pandemic is a growing concern for the millions of Americans impacted by this disease. While the U.S is experiencing another spike in Covid-19 cases, contract tracing is revving up as another method to manage the disease. Privacy and cybersecurity issues are appearing in the headlines on a regular basis, as we work to track the path of the virus.
The tracing methods being used in the partnership between Apple and Google depends extensively on Bluetooth low energy technology to inform individuals when they’ve been exposed to the virus. The potential success of this application rests on mass participation, and the tech companies involved have the ability to secure that. But privacy questions emerge based on the methods these companies use to secure that type of cooperation.
The American Civil Liberty Union (ACLU), a growing group of concerned scientists, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation have all expressed their concerns over the privacy and cybersecurity issues involved in that effort.
The ACLU’s concerns rest with the potential for overreach, discrimination, and ensuring that participation remains voluntary. These become hurdles that could potentially impact the success of the long-term project.
What Contact Tracing Apps Accomplish
Contact tracing applications can play an integral role in stopping the spread of the Covid-19 virus by alerting people early on to a potential threat. They offer the use of commonplace technology as a means to provide knowledge of a threat early enough to slow the eventual spread. But the ability for that to work, and for the technology to dependably spot potential exposure, relies on people to forgo some level of privacy.
The Bluetooth technology being used would allow for a higher level of individual privacy than an app that is based on individual geo-location tracking. It still works and provides useful information because contact tracing depends on collecting a vast amount of data on the general population.
How that data is stored, and what that data can be used for in the future also needs to be addressed. Congress is considering legislation to ensure that collection stops in the aftermath of the pandemic, and that the data is sunset at this time. But it’s tough to say whether that can be enforced, and whether that will actually happen.
Contact Tracing and Privacy – An Increased Potential for Data Theft
Any time you have mass collection and centralized storage of personal data by the government, you run an increased risk of data breaches occurring. The apps also open individuals up to the threat of phishing scams, ransomware, and other cyberattacks.
The issues and potential threats involved will need to be addressed in order for this technology to live up to its full potential.
Conclusion
The technology exists for phone apps to have a tremendous positive impact in the fight against Covid-19. They can alert people early on to the threat of the virus, and potentially limit or stop the spread of the disease in individual cases. But in order for this to occur, the intertwined link between contact tracing and privacy will need to be addressed.
Questions need to be answered about what will be done with the data after the pandemic, who will have access, and how it will be guarded. If that data can be safely managed, this technology can be an extremely useful asset as we address the pandemic.
Great company!
I think it is the best company in the world regarding data recovery. They take all types of recovery cases with great responsibility and ensure they work with the best possible solution for your specific case. I highly recommend it.
Superb effort
Superb effort from werecoverdata. I had no idea how to fix it when I faced a horrible problem with my RAID NAS. But they solved it very quickly and superbly. I recommend them!
Fantastic results
Thanks to all staff of werecoverdata for excellent work and for getting my company data back! I got frustrated when a deadly drop damaged my hard drive. But they solved it!
Thanks
Few days ago my raid server is crashed dangerously. It was not starting any more. I tried in a various way whatever I know but I could not fix it. My uncle told me about WeRecoverdata. Then contact with them and they repaired it. Thank you guys.
Recover service
Those are suffering bad experience of getting a reliable and professional recovery service provider, definitely, they can choose werecoverdata. I highly recommend it.
Thanks a lot
The location is a bit hard to find out but eventually, I did. They recovered my hard drive, which was mostly dead. Thanks a lot.
Great response
Definitely weRecover team is great to solve that kind of hard drive problem. Great response and remarkable. They recovered my all data successfully within short time. I wanna give special thank to David. Thanks a lot man.
Liked Your Service
I have been using my HP laptop since 2016. Few months ago I could not open my laptop. After pressing the power button its showing nothing. My friend told me about that company. They recovered my laptop. Now its working perfectly. Thanks a lot WeRecoverData.
Pretty good experience
It was really pretty good experience. They are so professional, punctual and reliable. I strongly recommend it.
Remarkable Work
A lot of thanks to werecoverdata. You did really remarkable work. I was frustrated when lost my important data from a hard drive. I sent my hard drive to WRD then they got all the data back. At first, I couldn’t believe anyone can recover it since my computer tech said he can’t do it. All credit goes to werecoverdata.
Gorgeous service
Fantastic service from all the guys at werecoverdata. I was having pressure when corrupted data from my hard drive .Then I went there and they fixed it superbly.Thanks for removing the pressure!
Extremely well
I faced horrible problem but they solved it extremely well.My problem was that hard drive crashed dangerously.At this moment I thought the sky was broken on my head.Thank you for that.
Sensible
Thanks to WeRecoverData. You fixed the hard drive problem promptly. I am impressed… Anybody can rely on werecoverdata.
Well done
Thank you
Great work
Obviously great work from werecoverdata.Definitely no doubt about this company because they take seriously to solve any kinds of problem.I have lot of assurance at them.A lot of thanks to them.
Fantastic work
Oh Tom really fantastic work. You saved my important days. Raid 5 server damaged dangerously few days ago. But you fixed it well. Thank you for that!
Great efforts
All credits goes to werecoverdata for recovering raid server.I thought impossible to repair it but they was taken sensible and fixed it.Now I can fully trust on werecoverdata.All thanks to them.
Helpful Work
Werecoverdata, you did a really very helpful work.I was angry when my hard drive got dropped from my mistakes. I recommend the company and give a lot of thanks to werecoverdata.
Best service
After my hard drive crashed I was going to be totally mad. One of mu cousin suggested me to meet that company. I did and got the best service ever I had.
Remarkable Job
AWESOME service from WeRecoverData. I was almost mad when my pc crashed. A lot of valuable data in my hard drive. One of my friend recommend it. I thought it will not be possible.
But after all I got back my all data. Thank You WeRecoverData.