If you’re like most people, you probably classify different types of things every day without even realizing it. This can be anything from the types of activities you enjoy to how you classify your friends, coworkers, or even strangers. Technology has had an enormous impact on the way we classify things in our world today, so let’s look at how this happens and the effect it has on the way we think and interact with each other.
When it comes to employment, job classifications are used to determine what type of work an employee does, what his or her main functions are and how these functions relate to the duties of other employees and their managers in the organization. With technology having advanced so much since the first classification systems were established, it’s no surprise that many of these systems have been updated as well, with some being replaced by new ones altogether and others undergoing major changes. How has technology affected classification? Read on to find out more about how this has come about and what it could mean for your business’ human resources operations.
The Post-Cold War Era
Beginning in 1989, with the fall of the Berlin Wall and collapse of Communism, Russia withdrew from Eastern Europe. This event has significant effects on technology as well. Suddenly individuals were more able to establish a private sphere online while organizations could impose regulations upon them with more ease. The relationship between the individual and technology was no longer distant but what many had once feared: one without borders.
The Internet, Computer Networks, and Information Technologies
The invention of the internet and its widespread usage has had a huge impact on the way we classify information. As more and likely all people with internet access can access webpages, there is no restriction to where someone can publish information. This includes publishing classified information as personal interest or publishing sensitive/classified governmental documents that are in the public’s right to know. The ability to connect via computer networks has also allowed a more interactive form of communication, which means more ways for people to interact with each other. More modern information technologies have also introduced avenues for digital surveillance and remote hacking that don’t exist in physical space (i.e., wiretapping). Digital technology has made it much easier to identify, monitor, and analyze any type of activity because data about anything can be collected digitally.
Disruptive Technologies
Blockchain disrupts the financial industry. Traditional banks are currently not at risk because no bank has yet leveraged blockchain and become a decentralized financial entity. But many companies, like Bitcoin, aim to do so. Blockchain eliminates the need for third-party intermediaries in transactions and settles them securely on a shared public ledger, virtually eliminating processing fees and delays. Using blockchain smart contracts can eliminate some of the barriers that new entrants face in establishing international relationships by providing key documentation as well as making it easier to exchange money when trading internationally or storing wealth outside of traditional financial institutions.
Drones disrupt delivery networks. Amazon Prime Air will provide aerial drone deliveries of small packages weighing up to five pounds through Amazon Prime Air’s Octocopters. Drone deliveries will cut down shipping costs and travel time, while increasing customer convenience.
Why Network Architectures are Important to Security
The most essential function of a network architecture is security. The main way that this is accomplished is through setting up a firewall, which controls the traffic on your computer and monitors what goes in and out. In order to secure your computer with a firewall, it must be set up in a specific manner. There are two ways that you can set up your network architecture: inbound or outbound rules. An inbound rule lets the data into your system only if it’s coming from an approved source, while an outbound rule will allow data to exit the system only if it’s destined for an approved recipient. With these different types of firewalls, you can control what information comes into or leaves your computer as well as who has access to it . . . Firewalls are also helpful when it comes to wireless networks because they prevent others from accessing your network without permission.
A Brief History of Malware
Malware is essentially malicious software, but it’s not all about viruses and data theft. It comes in many different shapes and sizes, and can be difficult to identify. One of the newest developments in malware is ransomware, which locks up your computer until you pay a ransom to decrypt your data. The Crypto Locker ransomware was widespread for some time before law enforcement agencies took notice and shut it down. Fortunately, there are ways to protect yourself from ransomware – just keep a backup of all your data! You should also run virus scans regularly to ensure that any existing malware has been removed.
Types of Attacks on Networks
There are various types of attacks that can be waged on a network. They range from Denial-of-Service Attacks to Man-in-the-Middle Attacks and more. * Denial of Service Attacks – this is when a device overloads the target system with requests, so that no legitimate traffic is able to get through. * Spoofing – This is when someone impersonates another person by forging their identity or data in some way. * Man-in-the-Middle Attack – This is when an attacker inserts themselves into the middle of a conversation between two other parties, thus being able to intercept and manipulate information without detection. These are just three examples of how technology has impacted the world of classification.
Anonymity, Anonymization and De-Anonymization Tools
Anonymity is the power to conceal one’s identity and personal information from those around them. This can be accomplished by using a wide variety of tools and platforms, such as de-identification services, which allow you to share your data while keeping it private. As these tools proliferate in the age of big data, privacy activists are increasingly concerned that this ability to conceal oneself is threatened. The potential for harm has been highlighted in recent news reports about Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm with ties to President Trump’s campaign. A whistleblower revealed that the company harvested private information from over 50 million Facebook users without their consent to use for targeted advertisements during the 2016 election cycle. The scandal has called into question Facebook’s responsibility for safeguarding its users’ privacy and lead several former executives at the company including Mark Zuckerberg, CEO and founder of Facebook, to testify before Congress on Tuesday April 10th.
The Cambridge Analytica scandal highlights some of the most fundamental questions surrounding how technology affects classification: What is public? What is private? How does anonymity work? Who controls our own data?
