Facial Recognition Technology: Developments and Concerns

 

Corporate bodies and governments all around the world are discovering the endless benefits of facial recognition technology. As with every other ground-breaking technology, especially those relating to data, privacy concerns are often raised.

Over the past couple of years, airports authorities have increased the use of security cameras in their facilities not only for security reasons, but also to speed up identity verification for departures. Organizations on the other hand are harnessing several biometric solutions – including facial recognition technology in a bid to properly checkmate the menacing problem of cyberattacks.

Prospects of Facial Recognition Technology

A Mordor Intelligence report predicts that the facial recognition technology market is expected to rise from $4.51 billion in 2018 to $9 billion in 2024. This technology is expected to have attained massive adoption within the next couple of years because of its numerous advantages. A couple of them are:

●        ability to match multiple IDs even in a crowded area;

●        provides highly accurate results even when used from a distance and;

●        real-time correspondence with databases.

Public fear over misuse of Personal Data

Matters regarding privacy, especially when it involves the government, never sits right with the general public – at least not since Edward Snowden’s revelation on surveillance concerning the NSA and the Facebook Analytica scandal which arose subsequent to the United States presidential election in 2016.

Data breaches, hacks and leaks have suddenly become the order of the day, leaving several people scared for their personal data. A lot of people are also concerned about how the data collected by applications, websites and institutions are handled and disposed of. The fear of personally identifiable information being used to commit fraud isn’t the primary concern for people these days.

Knowing fully well that their browsing history, social media likes, and content being consumed can all be warped up to form a close match to the behaviors and personality of an individual – is really what scares people. These data, when gathered from several users can be sold to advertising agencies or to some random person on the darkweb.

Using Blockchain Technology to Secure transactions and data

These numerous concerns have led researchers to explore the option of using blockchain technology to return the power of content control back to the users. Kairos believes in “Anonymous Digital Identity” for all – and in their opinion, the ability for users to verify important transactions with their digital identity is what sets the technology apart from the traditional networks used for storing data.

Just like Kairos, Aetsoft, a blockchain development company buttressed the security prowess of blockchain technology – characterizing it to be fast and secure. They highlighted the fact that the use of smart contracts can increase the effectiveness of the technology. Of course, the transactions and storages are secured with cryptography and a transaction trail that cannot be altered.

In Saudi Arabia however, the use of this blockchain facial security technology has been extended to other use-cases. This technology is being included in an authentication method for the use of ATM machines in the country. Some other ATMs now access blockchain network instead of the bank’s database and this helps in:

●        protecting customers’ identity and;

●        combating card fraud.

Stay Anonymous on the Web

The woes associated with this technology are numerous and it is only necessary that one doesn’t be a victim of the bad side of this technology. Hiding from online surveillance can truly be achieved through the use of encryption software.

It helps encode messages as they travel from sender to receiver. An application that does the job of this and more is a VPN. Apart from the traditional use of VPN which is to change IP addresses and offer anonymity, downloading a VPN can be used to hide your location and activity using encryption technology.

There are only so many individuals who can do concerning privacy regulations regarding the use of facial recognition software and personal data. The best that can be done is to endeavor to stay anonymous on the Internet and to keep clamoring for better reforms regarding the use of facial recognition technology.

Keeping Your Cryptocurrency Safe

 

Cryptocurrency has come a long way. So many people use currencies like Bitcoin for purchases and it is also a common investment instrument.

While this popularity is generally good, it has made cryptocurrency a target of criminals. What makes this particularly troubling is that it is close to impossible to recover stolen coins once they are gone.

While exchanges and cryptocurrency services have gotten better at security by using Infrastructure as Code tools and other measures, there is still some risk. If you are going to invest in cryptocurrency or even use it for spending, you need to take measures to keep it secure.

Don’t Use Wallets from Providers

Most exchanges will offer a free crypto wallet that comes with the account. These can be convenient because they are already connected to the exchange and it makes it easy to handle transactions. They are also attractive for people new to cryptocurrency because they are simple and they do not require any technical knowhow to set up.

As attractive as they are, the provider-hosted wallets are probably the least secure. The risk with these is that all of your information and security keys are secured on the provider’s server. If there is a breach, you could lose all of the currency you have stored in the wallet.

Research Cryptocurrency Wallets

If you are going to use cryptocurrency, a wallet is a necessity. Before using the free wallet from the exchange or signing up for the first digital wallet you find, you should do a little research to find out about different wallets and what they have to offer.

The first thing you need to understand is that the right wallet will depend on your needs. Some people might be served better by a hardware wallet and others might prefer one that operates from an app on their phone. Assess your needs, learn about the different wallets, and make an informed choice.

Cold Wallets and Hot Wallets

One point to consider is the difference between hot wallets and cold wallets. A hot wallet is what most people think of when they think of crypto wallets. It might be a web-based application or it could be an app housed on your phone or personal computer. A cold wallet is physical storage that is not connected to the internet.

Since they are not connected to the internet, cold wallets tend to be more secure. With that said, they are less convenient for making transactions. A cold wallet could be an encrypted USB device or it could be a paper crypto wallet.

Consider Hybrid Storage

You don’t have to choose between just one type of wallet. If you own a lot of cryptocurrency, it can be a good idea to go with a hybrid approach to storage. You could keep the bulk of your coins in a cold storage device while using a hot wallet for the convenience of day-to-day transactions and trading. You just need to evaluate your daily needs and then store the appropriate amount in the hot wallet while keeping the rest of your coins secure offline.

Strong Passwords and Two-Factor Authentication

Your cryptocurrency is only going to be as safe as you make it with your security keys. Create the strongest passwords possible and use two-factor authentication. You should also make sure to use different passwords for all of your accounts and change the passwords at least once a year.

You could also consider a password manager to ensure secure passwords for your crypto wallets and accounts. However, you will need to make sure to keep the master password secure. If the master password is compromised, it could have an impact on all of your accounts.

As a final point, make sure all of your devices are secure. If you are handling transactions on an insecure phone or laptop, something like a keylogger could be used to comprise your accounts. Make sure to follow the best practices for device security and install an antimalware program on any device that is used for cryptocurrency transactions.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BRAND CONSISTENCY AND THE BASIC APPROACHES REQUIRED

 

Brands are signatory designs or symbols used to identify a company, line of product, or service. People can identify your brand using your logo, trademark, or slogan. Building brand consistency involves a steady pattern and regular practices such as elements, values, and brand strategy services (digital strategies and offline strategies) implored in publicizing the brand and winning the attention of your target audience.

Having a brand is one thing, and sustaining the trust of people in your brand is another thing, and you can only do that through brand consistency. You cannot be on one day and off in one week, or a yellow design today and a blue design tomorrow, and expect people to trust and stick to you. In publicizing your brand, digital marketing strategies such as email marketing, content marketing (e-books, articles, webinars, blog posts), video production, amongst others are taken into consideration. For professional guidance in brand consistency, you can employ the services of a digital strategy agency.

4 Importance Of Brand Consistency

Here are reasons why you should maintain brand consistency.

1.       Recognition

Consistency in branding makes it easy for people to notice or recognize your brand. It spreads the gospel of your brand so far that one can easily tell it from just a glance.

2.       Trust

People tend to prefer and trust brands that maintain quality to brands whose quality fluctuates. Naturally, people go for what they are sure of in terms of expectations to what they are not sure of. Consistency builds trust.

3.       Gives You An Edge Over Your Competitors

People only know who or what they often see and hear about. If you can regularly dish out things about your brand, especially with your trademark on it, you will be the best amongst your competitors.

4.       Builds A Connection Between Your Brand And The People

People patronize things based on what they feel about the product or services. If you can win the hearts of people towards your brand, then naturally they'll patronize you.

3 Basic Approaches To Brand Consistency

There are a number of things you can do to maintain brand consistency. Here, we'll be giving you the fundamental steps to take.

1.          Constantly Use Your Brand Symbol (Logo, Trademark, Or Design Element)

When marketing or publicizing your product using any of the digital strategies, ensure that your brand logo or design element is included; this helps to boost brand recognition. Nothing beats easy recognition of a brand at a glance. For example, when you see products, designs, videos, and text contents carrying the Apple logo, you don't need to be told that it is a product of Apple Inc.

2.       Ensure A Consistent Style Of Publication

Create a style guide for your Content and make sure that it is applied in all content creation and delivery; this applies to any form of marketing strategy you employ. Your style guide helps your employees know how and when to use your style. A typical example of a style guide is the Mozilla writing style guide. See to it that everything you publicize including images, emails, text contents, amongst others has a consistent style.

3.       Use A Consistent Brand Tone And Personality

When distributing content across all your offline and online channels, see to it that your brand tone and personality remain the same. If your brand depicts professionalism, ensure that your tone is formal, or professional across all your distribution channels.

If you are working towards building brand consistency, the basic approaches listed above are steps you must take to achieve positive outcomes.