The Unspoken Risk of Accessing Websites with Your Personal Accounts
Personal data has become one of the most valuable resources. This is evident in the ongoing efforts of companies to collect detailed information about their users, from browsing habits to purchasing preferences.
Added to the above are cyberattacks, whose main goal is to access this type of information, taking into account that information on the Internet constitutes an important and sensitive asset. Here, maintaining a low level of concern and protecting your privacy online becomes an increasingly greater challenge.
In many cases, electronic devices know users' behavior patterns in greater detail, with the proliferation of apps, social networks, and websites that require constant registration, as well as tracking through cookies and algorithms, where browsing without supervision can be difficult.
This highlights the extent of control these technologies can exert over personal information. But what risks do many websites pose to users when they sign in using Google or social network accounts, including Facebook, as a viable alternative to accessing their services?
By using the “Sign in with Google” or “Sign in with Facebook” options, users often grant access to personal data stored in their primary accounts. Depending on the permissions you agree to, this data may include names, email addresses, profile pictures, locations, and contact lists.
Although this exchange of information is subject to the privacy policies of the platforms, it is not always completely transparent to the user. Websites often take advantage of this opportunity to collect additional data that is not strictly necessary for the service. This can lead to misuse of the information, such as selling the data to third parties or sending unwanted marketing campaigns.
Furthermore, users often accept permissions without carefully reading the terms, leaving the door open to being granted access to more information than they should. This poses a threat to privacy, as control over the shared data lies with the website in question, not the user.
This means that if any of these key accounts is compromised, cybercriminals can easily access all of the platforms associated with them. A phenomenon known as the “domino effect” can have dire consequences, ranging from the theft of personal information to unauthorized access to bank accounts or business data.
Fortunately, there are alternative ways to log in. Examples include email registration and unique passwords, which, while they may require more effort at first, ensure greater control over personal information.