Geeks logo

The Future of IT in the Metaverse

How Will We Handle Security and Privacy

By Mia FischerPublished 2 years ago 5 min read
Like
Metaverse headset: courtesy of Unsplash

The metaverse has the potential to be a safe and secure world. Users can explore virtual worlds, socialize with friends, and even find love without the fear of being hacked or having their identity stolen. According to Forrester, an estimated 75% of business-to-consumer executives plan to invest in the metaverse this year. But for a place that is so centered on security, there are still some big concerns when it comes to privacy and security. There are many risks involved with living in a digital world where everything we do can be traced back to us. Anyone who has ever been tagged in an embarrassing photo they wished they could delete knows that our digital footprints can follow us forever.

This makes it important for virtual spaces to have systems in place that protect users from being exploited by hackers, stalkers, and other nefarious individuals who might want access to information about them that they would rather keep private. Technical recruiting company, Edison & Black reports a recent uptick in clients requesting IT consultation in the metaverse.

What Are the Risks of Living in a Virtual World?

First and foremost, users who log into virtual spaces are putting their physical safety at risk. The virtual world can be just as dangerous as the real world, so users will need to be mindful of this risk. With the rise of augmented reality, it is possible that users could be logged into virtual spaces when walking down the sidewalk. This could create even more opportunities for physical danger. Users should also be careful when using voice recognition software to log in with their voice in virtual spaces. Anyone who has watched the TV show Black Mirror knows that this could be a security issue because a person’s voice recognition could be hacked. Users should also be aware of digital threats that exist in the metaverse. This includes the risk of being hacked, having their personal information stolen, or having sensitive government data stolen. There are also other risks that exist that users should be aware of, such as the possibility of online bullying or catfishing.

How Will We Address Privacy and Security in the Metaverse?

For the metaverse to be considered a safe and secure virtual world, there needs to be a focus on privacy and security. There are several ways that the virtual world can protect the privacy of its users. For example, virtual spaces can have privacy settings built into them that allow users to decide who can see what parts of the virtual world. Users can also have the option of deleting their digital footprints, which would keep their information private. Some of these privacy features will come as part of a central governing system. For example, the virtual world could have a governing body to oversee the privacy issues that arise. This governing body could decide what type of information needs to be shared and when it needs to be shared. It could also provide users with a central website to report any privacy issues they have with the virtual world.

Digital Identities

One of the biggest concerns that arises when discussing virtual identities and the metaverse is the potential for risk. There are many ways that users in the metaverse can protect their digital identities. There could be a verification system that checks to see if a user’s identity is legitimate. This could help to reduce the amount of bad outcomes that occurs in the metaverse. It is also possible that there could be a central register where users can log in and see a record of the information that has been collected about them. This would help them to take steps to correct any mistakes in the record. Users should also keep their virtual identity separate from their real-life identity. This would help to protect their real-life identity from being hacked.

Digital Assets

Another concern that arises when discussing the topic of digital assets is the potential for data hoarding. There are several ways that the virtual world can protect against data hoarding. For example, there could be a system that allows users to share the data they collect with others. This would allow both groups to collect the benefits of the data while still protecting the privacy of individuals. There could also be a system that allows individuals to choose what happens to the data they collect at the end of their life, such as when they want the data to be deleted. There could also be a tax on the collection of data to help fund the virtual world and to keep the data from being hoarded. This would help to keep the data from being used in ways that harm the people who provided it.

Online Safety and Education

Virtual spaces need to provide users with the tools they need to stay safe while also educating them on how to stay safe. There could be a virtual equivalent of a driver’s ed course that teaches users what to do when they are at risk of being hacked. This could help to prevent online stalking and other malicious acts. There could also be virtual spaces where users can report instances of cyberbullying or other online complaints. This could help to keep the virtual world safe for all users. This would also create a central location where people could report instances of bad behavior and other online risks they witness.

Virtual Reality Environment Monitoring Software

Virtual reality environment monitoring software can be used to track the safety and security of a virtual world. This software can be used to track the content of a virtual world, the interactions of users, and the interactions of avatars in the virtual world. This type of software can be used to monitor the virtual world for inappropriate content, cyberbullying, or other harmful activities. There are also log management tools that could be used to track information about the users who visit the virtual world and what they do in the virtual space. This could be helpful in the metaverse to track security breaches, cyberattacks, and other virtual world issues.

In Closing

The future of the metaverse is bright. The metaverse has the potential to be a safe and secure virtual world. There are many ways that the virtual world can protect its users from privacy breaches. There are also ways that the virtual world can educate its users on how to stay safe while logged into the virtual world. The future of the metaverse relies on security and privacy. To make the virtual world the best it can be, there needs to be a focus on protecting the data of users and preventing the more negative aspects.

industry
Like

About the Creator

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.