Everybody knows there is no such thing as privacy anymore. Someone is always listening, watching attentively, and archiving information for possible future use. This, of course, is made easier by the advancement of our technology. It is indeed a double-edged sword. No wonder some Americans feel uneasy even in their own homes and offices. Emails and phone conversations could be easily monitored, and houses, offices, cars could be easily bugged. But this is all old news really, old ways exhausted by espionage around the globe and even in literature.
Intelligence has taken a whole new level to keep up with the times. In 2017, theatlantic.com published an article online entitled “The Tools of Espionage Are Going Mainstream.” And it is. According to the article, Russian intel lured unsuspecting Americans to join an online group and, from there, launched campaigns ranging from religion to social issues. Twitter and Facebook are two of the readily available targets used by intel to gather information, spread false news, plant doubt and other subtle ideas to further hidden agendas. The more inclined we are to use these social media platforms, the smaller the world shrinks and the easier we become pawns in someone’s game.
Facebook and Twitter alone have millions of users who use these platforms regularly. Sometimes these users spend their day glued to the screen, sharing information about themselves or spreading information about others. Anyone inclined to gather information can easily do so. Imagine what computer wizards can do.
In the past, spies or intel agents had very distinct characteristics—or at least that’s what the movies led us to believe. These days, intel agents may look just like the next hardcore gamer, online gods hooked to the screen, clothes and appearance, in general, be damned. Surely, you can imagine the vast amount of online treasure at their disposal. A few clicks and they can access your bank account. Another click and they can get into personal information stored on any website. Just like how the government employed the best muscles and tacticians in history, the government now keeps some of the most brilliant hackers in the world and they wouldn’t have any scruples obtaining information should the need arise.
Be careful then what you share or post and what communities, groups, or events you join. You never know who is watching.
