Clubhouse has gained some major traction in recent months. Between the millions of new users and big names like Elon Musk, Kevin Hart, and many others signing up, it’s safe to say the world of social media has a new entrant to keep things interesting. Unfortunately, with success comes security problems — see Zoom — and Clubhouse is now dealing with a breach that calls into question the overall safety of the audio-sharing app. Unfortunately, the waters are a bit murky about whether or not they can guarantee that kind of thing. While the company manages most of its front-end and user experience activity, Clubhouse outsources its back-end management, like data traffic and audio production, to China-based Agora Inc. As you’ve likely heard a millions times during the TikTok-SoundByte saga, Chinese companies have a complicated relationship with online privacy, as the state government is questionably involved with pretty much everything. Subsequently, it’s safe to wonder: Is Clubhouse safe? Researchers at SIO noted that, due to Agora’s ties to China, that the company “would likely have access to users’ raw audio, potentially providing access to the Chinese government.” Simply put, while this security breach was a blip in the world of online privacy, it opened a door, giving us a glimpse at what’s behind the curtain of the newly popular Clubhouse app that everyone is talking about. Still, there are lots of other threats online that are plenty scary outside of new forms of social media. Here are a few ways you can keep yourself safe while surfing the world wide web.
Password managers – These tools house your many accounts in one secure place so you never have to worry about getting hacked.VPNs – The right VPN will keep you safe no matter where you surf, plus they come with a lot of cool perks like international streaming service access.Antivirus software – If you’re worried about malware or other viruses infecting your company, these resources can secure your devices.
All these tools can really help you stay safe online, but the best tool in your arsenal is vigilance. The reality is that most hacks and breaches occur due to human error, and paying attention can make all the difference to your online safety.
