With the growth of Clubhouse as a very popular app across the world, cyber-security experts are worried that the invitation-only audio-chat platform appears to be a reflection of the growing interest in sound-based products with the recent rebound of the podcast. According to Kaspersky, world leading cybersecurity outfit, the app can create a false sense of security, privacy, and closeness, in part because of how its registration works (it’s invitation-only at the moment). This creates several risks for the users, which are important to be aware of when using any public space on the Internet.
One of the risks is privacy risks. This is often connected with the fact that people feel they are surrounded by like-minded individuals and friends, which allows them to behave more authentically than they would in front of strangers.
This creates an opportunity for offenders who are always on the lookout to use any accidentally mentioned information against the victim, yet in this particular instance, a user wouldn’t be able to prove the phrase was, for example, taken out of context, unless the conversation is recorded in advance.
Theoretically, such cases could lead even to blackmailing a targeted person by demanding to pay a ransom. Moreover, it’s important to remember that everything you speak or write within the app is not only heard and seen by those present but also collected and analysed by the service itself.
The app collects content, communications, and other information that participants provide, including when you sign up for an account, create or share content, and message or communicate with others. To create and manage an account, a participant may provide personal data, including name, phone number, a photo, an email address, and a username. And the app temporarily records the audio in a room while the room is live.
Also, the data collected about the participants may also be given to third-parties, albeit for temporary use, but as the app has seen from high-profile incidents no one is insured against leaks.
“As a whole, Clubhouse’s Privacy Policy is relatively standard, but when you share something on such social networks, it’s very important to always remember that you actually can’t be 100% sure what will happen with your shared data, so you have to be prepared for the fact that one day it may leak to the general public – someone may simply record it” – says Alexey Firsh, security researcher at Kaspersky.
Users must remember that the Internet, especially discussion and social platforms, are a public place and the behaviour conducted on them should be appropriate for the public.