Are Your Note-Taking Apps a Security Risk?
Note-taking apps are part of the recent trend of enabling people to document every aspect of their lives for posterity and future use. Everyone knows that with convenience comes diminished security. But what steps do you need to take to ensure your day-to-day musings aren't being hacked?
Note-Taking Problems
What are the choices out there? Codebook (iOS), Evernote, Simplenote ... By the time you finish this sentence, there will be others.
With new technology comes flimsy architecture. A good many of the note-taking apps that are on the market today have been afflicted with all manner of bugs which not only seriously damper the user experience, but also present potential openings for unauthorized access.
The Latest Casualty
Take the latest news of Microsoft removing Journal from its Windows operating system because of security concerns. Last May, the company issued a "critical security patch" to address a code issue in Journal, but it turns out that the patch just wasn't good enough to address the entirety of the problem. And guess what, the patch might even be responsible for mucking up Outlook, too. The final twist of the knife came when Microsoft suggested that users go download OneNote, another program fraught with issues.
Use With Caution
So, yes. Note-taking apps are a security risk, just like any other application that constantly allows users to upload information to a cloud. But most of our users are smart enough to already appreciate the basic reality. Convenience is the breeding ground security risks. It's just a question of how much risk you (and your clients) are willing to take.
Related Resources:
- Evernote, OneNote, and Beyond: The 12 Best Note-Taking Apps (Zapier)
- LinkedIn Unleashes the CFAA on Unauthorized Bots (FindLaw's Technologist)
- Metadata: the Ethics Trap That Could Get You in Trouble (FindLaw's Technologist)
- Which Video Conferencing Platforms Are Best for Lawyers? (FindLaw's Technologist)
