Strange timing but yesterday we were chatting in the newsroom about having to access anything to do with life online and all the passwords and what not that you have to keep track of in order to keep track of your bills, your banking, your pension and investments, literally every aspect of life. When I say strange timing, I’m referring to a Facebook post I spotted that suggests many in the older segment of our population are being excluded because everything has become a code, a portal or an app. The point being made was that the very people who built the country are being cast into a position of technical illiteracy not of their own making. And if they don’t have a son or daughter or grandchild to help, they may struggle to engage in the basics of conducting life. I too believe technology should serve people, not enslave them or deprive them of the ability to partake in life even if it is something as mundane as paying a bill. And now I find out via a post from a police service in Canada that the authentication on your phone where the entity whose app you are using sends you a text with a secret number to verify you are you, isn’t actually that safe. That in fact there are bad actors who can actually take identity theft to the next level by hijacking your phone number and tricking your mobile provider into transferring your number to a new SIM card. Once they gain control, they can intercept all security codes, they can reset your passwords, and they can access your bank, email, and social media accounts. So, the advice was – if your phone suddenly stops working, act fast and contact your provider immediately. Great, cause trying to interact with my stupid smartphone hasn’t made me paranoid enough.