Privacy and Data Security: Computer technology and security are constantly evolving, with new developments happening every day. It’s not enough that a developer works on the accurateness of building app functions. Essentially, you also need to mind both functional and non-functional outlines.
Functional requirements pertain to the ones that describe what the app needs to do. They are the primary processes, and without them, the app won’t work. These include authorizations, authentications, historical data, transactions, and checkouts.
Non-functional requirements, on the other hand, describe ‘how‘ the app must carry out a specific function. They also have the quality attributes that explain the app’s user experience. Some examples are the time consumed to deliver server response, data consumption limits, and loading speed.
As hackers become rampant, it’s crucial to include privacy and data protection in the list. Apps must be secure, respond quickly, scale fast, and should not crash during peak hours.
Methods
The Shifting Sphere of Privacy and Data Security
Data will always have a significant role in our lives. When subscribing to a service, you have to provide your information, for instance.
However, data collection is generally less noticeable. Data brokers create extensive profiles of individuals used for advertising and catering to consumer needs. Each profile comprises data like browsing history or political affiliation.
Data brokers are firms that gather information about people and sell them to others. They collect every detail they can get and sell it to other companies or individuals. It may include birthdate, number of children, or even job title.
The changes in the privacy and data security sphere lead to millions of stolen data. Once in a while, a data breach occurs. As a developer, you have the power to keep this from happening.
One effective way of securing data is by using data encryption programs. These programs place the information in a scrambled format, requiring an encryption key to decipher. Having the latest malware protection installed on your servers can also hinder possible data breaches.
Using a viable blazing SEO residential proxy is also another way to protect valuable data by diverting all online requests. It will come from the user’s computer to conceal his identity. Millions of people are using proxy servers. They use it to sidestep website restrictions and access certain websites.
What You Should Know About Privacy and Data Security Collection
Data breaches and identity theft pose challenges for everyone. Hackers depend on the information that people share online. Internet users input their name, address, or number to buy goods and services or access content.
You need not pay anything when accessing social media platforms. However, you become a cash cow because of the information you provide. They sell it to different individuals and advertisers to make money.
Did you receive text messages or emails ads you haven’t subscribed to before? It means that someone sold your personal information to more than just one person or company.
Data Transparency
Data transparency is critical when it comes to storing data. Clarity is also essential when it comes to the data storage period and its purpose. This helps promote trust between a consumer and a company.
You need to provide users with a privacy policy link. It should inform them precisely what happens to collected data. This gives them an idea of what they are signing up for.
For example, a customer bought a smartwatch that collects data, such as heartbeat. It will be helpful to the user because he can have more info about his condition. However, sharing his data with a shoe company or gadget manufacturer is a bad idea.
Companies in Europe need to abide by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It provides people with more privacy rights and their data. They are not just protected as consumers but also as employees and civilians.
In the United States, these regulations work a bit differently. It’s up to the distinct sectors how to handle them.
Allow Users to Manage Their Data
Most often than not, companies use collected data to offer advertisements to consumers. It develops unique interactions to associate users’ needs and interests closely.
Empower your users to choose their preferences. It helps them choose what they want to share or not to share. For example, some people want to share their birthdays on their profile page, and others don’t.
It’s important to respect your user’s right to privacy. Just collect the data that you need—nothing more, nothing less.
Protect Your Data
There are things that you can do as a developer to help prevent confidential data from exposure. Here are things that you need to consider in terms of data protection.
It’s okay to share simple business information throughout the organization. But, access to personal data requires a different approach.
Confidential information needs watchful safeguarding. It includes access to users’ data, such as names and addresses.
Cross Business Information
Never use information from other businesses’ production databases. It will only make data from other companies more complicated.
Encryption of Reserved Data
Backups help restore your app without too much data loss. The more significant your app is, the more replication it needs. It’s necessary to integrate it into your backup storage approach.
If you need to have backup data, it’s better to encrypt them. It contains lots of sensitive information, so make sure you won’t compromise them.
Limiting Data Access
To protect data, allow only authorized users to access them. It means limiting the server’s access to the information.
It’s better to make a new user for each person and don’t allow information shared with many people. Only give them authority to the files they need access to. Don’t provide more consents to users than necessary.
Moreover, ensure that you control access to all of your website’s domains. You don’t want any data breach to occur.
You can easily control access by using basic HTTP Authentication. Users need to provide a username and password before they can visit the website. This protects the data from typical visitors.
Updating Software Packages and Libraries
Updated software packages and libraries keep your application guarded. Outdated ones, on the other hand, will cause a lot of trouble.
Once hackers find a weakness in your app, the data contained therein are in jeopardy. Remember to update and patch exposure immediately continuously.
Apply a security patch on a third-party software you’re using, like WordPress. Since it’s a widely-used software, hackers will attempt to strike any vulnerabilities. Most developers manage their software dependencies using npm, yarn, and Composer.
Collect Only Needed Data
Don’t collect data you don’t need to safeguard, and don’t collect more than you need. Examine each collected information and delete those that you don’t need.
Conclusion
Developers have the responsibility to protect the information of every user and consumer. Each detail entered online needs protection to prevent stolen information and identity theft. Keep those that you only need and delete the unnecessary ones.
