Mission Possible with Tech: How to become untraceable like Ethan Hunt

There are two types of people in the world: those who have imagined being a super spy and those who lie.

If James Bond epitomises suave and sophistication, Ethan Hunt defines agility and infiltration. Apart from the impossible-looking stunts, Tom Cruise’s Hunt has also mastered the art of not leaving a trace.

Sadly, we are not super spies being sent on impossible missions. But why should that discourage you from being as untraceable as Ethan Hunt himself? Here are some changes you can make to your everyday tech usage to improve your privacy and online security.

When connecting to a public internet

Hunt gets to work from Burj Khalifa; we work from our local cafes with free internet. But connecting to public Wi-Fi networks opens your data to potential security risks. Most websites today use encryption to reduce information leaks. However, it is a good idea to avoid financial transactions or exchanging sensitive personal data while on a public network.

Private browsing modes like Incognito on Chrome and InPrivate on Edge let you access the web without it registering in your browsing history. To take it a step further, you can also use a VPN or virtual private network. A VPN to you is what the face mask machine is to the IMF agents – it will mask your data and add anonymity when you connect to the web.

When using social media

If anything goes against the core of being a spy, it has to be having a social media presence. Can you imagine Ethan Hunt posting a selfie while hanging onto the side of a plane taking off with #yolo?

It isn’t easy to be off social media entirely; after all, it’s not only a source of entertainment and information but is also the ‘town square’ of our time. However, you can be mindful of what and how much you share on social media. You can also check the privacy and security settings on social platforms to limit who can see what you post.

When messaging online

Sorry, Snapchat, but Mission Impossible did disappearing messages first. Every message deserves to be private, be it a top-secret government mission or a reminder from your mom to get free coriander with the veggies.

Messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger offer end-to-end encryption, reducing the chances of third parties secretly reading your data. You can also use one of the several messaging platforms that offer some ephemeral messaging version – messages that vanish after a set duration.

When using your gadgets

Maybe not as impressive as cutting-edge spy gadgets, but don’t dismiss the technological marvel that is your mobile phone or smart TV is. Given the amount of personal information accessible via our gadgets, securing them is a no-brainer.

Operating systems, apps, software, and web browsers receive periodic updates that improve security. Make sure you install them on time to leave your gadgets less susceptible. You can also explore and change the privacy and security settings to know what data is being gathered by the device.

Becoming a super spy like Ethan Hunt will always be something we will all dream of. But it need not be the same case with privacy. Being entirely untraceable in today’s digital age may be tricky. But taking the steps mentioned above and a bit of due caution can go a long way to ensure it isn’t mission impossible.

Image Source: SkyDance