Networks
Every connected device, from a “smart” thermostat at the low end of processing power to a supercomputer at the high end, has to have a way to communicate with other devices, cloud services, Internet websites, and so forth. This communication is accomplished via a network, which is formed by a combination of hardware and software that allows messages to be exchanged between systems. Networks are responsible for transferring data over various kinds of communications links including copper cable, fiber optic cable, radio signals, and even sound or light signals.
Regardless of the underlying communication method, a network presents a risk to a person’s privacy. Intentional communications between a person and someone else can be intercepted, and the network also provides a means by which apps, websites, and devices can transmit private information without the user’s knowledge or informed consent. In this section, we will take a high level look at how networks work, some of the privacy issues related to them, and how we can improve our privacy at home and on our phones by using VPN services and/or Tor.