Free machine translation can leak data

New European Union regulations will threaten companies with substantial fines if they’re found guilty of a data breach. While IT departments ensure the integrity and security of their data, many ignore the outflow of proprietary information through the frequent use of free machine translation.

Text by Donald A. DePalma

Inhaltsübersicht

Free machine translation can leak data

Your personal and corporate data is under siege. Hackers around the world steal identities and credit cards and breach the cyber-defenses of corporations, while government agencies systematically monitor your phone calls, e-mail, and Internet usage. Whether they are driven by the promise of ill-gotten gains or claims of national defense, these invaders have inspired the European Union and other governments to institute strong laws to protect data.

But even if these hackers and government agencies stopped looking, you would still have to worry about data security. Why? Both your employees and your suppliers are unconsciously conspiring to broadcast your confidential information, trade secrets, and intellectual property (IP) to the world. How? Through unencrypted requests to Google Translate and Microsoft Bing Translator, routine use of Wi-Fi at coffee shops and airports, and whenever ...