Data Protection in the Rise of Virtual Reality
Virtual reality once was deemed mere fiction. The ability to fully immerse oneself in a whole new way seems far-fetched. But after years of research and development by tech giants such as Facebook, Google, and Samsung, VR devices have finally entered the market.
As prices of VR gadgets do down due to competition and innovation, there’s a question looming above every user: How can their data be protected in the world of VR?
The Threat of Data Mining
When Facebook and its acquisition Oculus finally released the Oculus Rift, some got worried about their privacy. VR devices indicate how they will use and gather data in their terms of service — and some could easily send valuable information to other companies. The use of personal information is how Facebook gets billions of dollars in ad revenue. Even the mere collection of birthdates, work details, and emails can be disastrous in the wrong hands.
Data mining isn’t necessarily dangerous, but it’s alarming when users do not know what they are offering in exchange for the VR experience. Data miners will reap more profits through selling user data to advertisers looking for new customers.
Augmented Reality
One related technology to VR is Augmented Reality (AR). Games such as Pokémon Go need to know a user’s location to place virtual objects in the real world. While providing location is helpful for GPS and digital maps, businesses can utilize it to track where people usually go — and not everyone is okay with this.
Taking Security Measures
Reading the terms of service helps to know what information will be collected. For VR users who need an extra layer of security, a VPN is handy. Data transmitted to the Internet is encrypted.
Plus, a multi-device VPN allows people to secure their data regardless of whether they’re browsing social media or playing a VR game. VR users can also use VPN to download their preferred VR apps banned in their region.
VR isn’t just a fad. More people will enjoy how immersive the VR experience is. The task now is to ensure that user privacy isn’t thrown out the window.
