Are you aware of the mind-boggling amount of data being generated every day? Brace yourself for this shocking revelation: the world’s data is growing at an astronomical rate! According to a recent study by IDC, the volume of data created and stored globally is expected to soar from 163 zettabytes in 2021 to a mind-blowing 622 zettabytes in 2025 – that’s a whopping 622 trillion gigabytes of data! 😲
But hold on! As our digital footprint expands, so do the risks associated with it.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the implications of this data explosion on our lives, delve into the importance of data security, and reveal how using a VPN, particularly NordVPN, can safeguard your privacy without compromising performance. And guess what? I, your trusty author, have been using NordVPN since 2017 and can vouch for its effectiveness in protecting your online activities! Let’s dive in!
What is Zettabytes of Data: Simplifying the Concept
You might be wondering, “What exactly is a zettabyte?” 🤔 Let’s break it down using a simple analogy.
Imagine you have a standard laptop with a hard drive that can store about 1 terabyte (TB) of data. Now, let’s expand that concept further.
A zettabyte (ZB) is a unit of digital storage that is equivalent to one billion terabytes! Yes, you read that right—one billion times the capacity of your average laptop hard drive. 🤯
To put this into perspective, consider the following analogies of zettabytes of data:
Library of Congress: The Library of Congress in the United States is the largest library in the world, housing a vast collection of books, documents, photos, and more. If we were to digitize the entire Library of Congress, it would amount to roughly 10 terabytes of data. Now, multiply that by a billion, and you’ll start to fathom the immense scale of a zettabyte.
Hours of HD Video: If you were to binge-watch high-definition (HD) videos without interruption, it would take you about 2.5 petabytes (PB) of data to watch a million hours of content. Now, multiply that by a million, and you’ll get close to the magnitude of a zettabyte.
Instagram Photos: With over a billion monthly active users, Instagram is a treasure trove of images. Suppose each photo on Instagram occupies an average file size of 1 megabyte (MB). To reach a zettabyte, you would need one trillion (1,000,000,000,000) photos on Instagram. That’s a staggering number, considering that there are currently around 50 billion photos on the platform!
So, a zettabyte is not just a large number—it represents an unimaginable volume of data, capable of storing entire libraries, countless hours of videos, or mind-boggling numbers of photos. Understanding the scale of a zettabyte emphasizes the monumental growth of data in our digital world.
The Security Risk of Zettabytes of Data: A Growing Data Consumption
With data growing at such an alarming rate, it’s crucial to understand the risks associated with it. Just think about all the personal information, financial details, and sensitive data that you generate and share online every day. If this information falls into the wrong hands, it can lead to identity theft, fraud, and other cybercrimes. 😨 It’s essential to take steps to safeguard your digital footprint against unauthorized access and potential data breaches. Let’s explore how you can protect yourself effectively.
How Data Growth Affects Your Daily Life: Pros and Cons:
The increasing volume of data has both positive and negative impacts on your daily life. Let’s delve into some of the advantages and disadvantages:
Pros
Personalized Experiences: Companies can use the vast amount of data to tailor products, services, and recommendations to your preferences, enhancing your overall digital experience.
Technological Advancements: The analysis of extensive data sets drives innovation, leading to exciting technological advancements and improved efficiency in various industries.
Medical Breakthroughs: The abundance of data allows medical researchers to make significant discoveries, develop new treatments, and improve healthcare outcomes.
Cons
Privacy Concerns: More data generated means a higher risk of privacy invasion. Your personal information can be exploited, sold, or misused without your knowledge or consent. A great example of this is the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica Data breach which you can read here.
Targeted Advertising: Advertisers can use your data to create targeted ads, manipulating your choices and influencing your purchasing decisions.
Data Breaches and Cybercrimes: With the exponential growth of data, cybercriminals have more opportunities to launch attacks, compromising your personal information and online security.
Why Use VPN: Your Digital Security Guard
In this era of growing data consumption, how can you protect your privacy and maintain online security? The answer lies in Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). A VPN establishes a secure and encrypted connection between your device and the internet, shielding your online activities from prying eyes, hackers, and other threats. Here’s why using a VPN is crucial:
Enhancing Security on Public Wi-Fi:
Public Wi-Fi networks are notorious for their lack of security. Hackers can easily intercept your data when you connect to these networks, putting your sensitive information at risk. However, with a VPN, all your data is encrypted and protected, ensuring that even on unsecured networks, your information remains private and secure.
Managing the Risks of Growing Data Consumption:
As data consumption continues to grow, the risks associated with it become more significant. By using a VPN, you can mitigate these risks and protect your digital footprint. A VPN encrypts your internet connection, making it nearly impossible for cybercriminals to access your data. It acts as a secure tunnel that shields your online activities from prying eyes, safeguarding your privacy.
NordVPN: The Most Secure VPN And My Trusted Choice for Online Security
Speaking from personal experience, I’ve been using NordVPN since 2017, and it has been an invaluable tool for protecting my online privacy. I believe the most secure VPN yet is NordVPN. Here’s why I trust NordVPN:
Advanced Security Features:
NordVPN uses top-of-the-line encryption to ensure that your data is virtually impenetrable to hackers and cybercriminals. This was heavily referred by Tom’s Guide article so you can rest assure that this claim is not only coming from NordVPN themselves.
AES-256 encryption to ensure all data transmitted over the servers is concealed and kept private.
A choice of a number of protocols, including the superfast and secure WireGuard-based NordLynx.
Double VPN, a security feature that routes your connection through two servers instead of one, providing double encryption.
Threat Protection, which blocks unsafe websites and increases internet security.
Global Server Network:
With NordVPN, you can connect securely from anywhere in the world, even in countries with strict internet censorship like China. It is the best vpn for China; whether you are a resident or visitor of China you can assure that you are not out of touch from the rest of the world by using NordVPN. Or you just want to stream Netflix!
No-Log Policy:
NordVPN has a strict no-log policy, meaning they don’t track or store any of your online activities, preserving your privacy. They recently had two independent audits to confirm this claims (2018 and 2020) and you can read more about it here.
User-Friendly Experience:
NordVPN offers user-friendly apps and interfaces, making it easy for anyone to safeguard their online presence, regardless of technical expertise. This is one of the key factors that made me continue to subscribe to Nord VPN. Easy to set-up in less than two minutes using multiple devices; mobile and pc. If you are stuck, their friendly support team are their to help you troubleshoot any issues which I hardly use.
Cost-effective:
Secure without breaking your pocket. Depending on your subscription, your monthly cost is less than your Starbucks Coffee Light Frappuccino that you would normally consume in a day. If you want to try the NordVPN, get it here and with a 30 day money back guarantee.
Conclusion:
The bottom line, as we navigate the data explosion of the digital age, protecting your privacy and ensuring online security has become paramount. The immense growth in data consumption brings both benefits and risks. By using a VPN like NordVPN, you can safeguard your expanding digital footprint and enjoy a secure online experience.
Personally, since I found NordVPN in 2017, I never looked back. I believe it is the best and the most secure vpn for everyone especially those who are not technically savvy.
As an ex-Pen-tester, someone who was trained to legally hack businesses’ wi-fi using public wifi in a coffee shop, I definitely recommend using vpn to secure your digital lifestyle. Especially when you are travelling to other countries where sometimes you only depend on public wifi. Public wifi security is next to nothing. Businesses especially small businesses who cannot afford to hire IT staff do not always prioritise public wifi security. Public wifi is one of the perks to encourage customers to stay at their premises and hopefully buy more of their goods and services.
As someone who have travelled to few countries, I always have NordVPN on all my devices. It has consistently delivered on its promise of protecting my online activities. So, take control of your digital life, prioritize your security, and start your journey toward a safer and more secure online presence with NordVPN! Stay safe and secure online! 😊🔒
Get your first NordVPN here with a 30 day money back guarantee.
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I miss You! Yes, you, the other side of me that I was neglecting again in my pursuit to temporarily meet the expectation from my day job!
My main income stream is a data engineer during the day. My QHHT practice is a sideline as I continue to gain more experience in the field as a practitioner. I enjoy what I do. Both fields are on the opposite side of the spectrum; one is mostly logic-driven (left brain) and the hypnosis is the creative side of the brain.
I have been doing my day job for 11 years and yes, it’s been a long time. I’d like to believe that I am fairly good when it comes to data engineering or any technical subjects which relate to data. I flourish in this field. However, the more technical experience you get in a role comes with high demand or sometimes the more specialist the role is, the likely you are to be a key dependency. I do not want to discuss what are the different options to avoid this because this is not the reason for my blog today.
No matter how healthy you want to live your life from re-wiring new habits or learning new fields or having deep social connection or spiritual growth still, you cannot escape getting dragged back to the hamster wheel like everyone else, the rat race! The wheel is a metaphoric representation of doing the same thing over and over again. In this case, go to work, deliver and get a paycheck at the end of the month, pay bills then repeat the process until you retire. This is what I mean by the hamster wheel. Until you know how to break the wheel and be bold to do something different than everyone else, then you are always bound to the hamster wheel.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy my day job otherwise, I would not be staying in the same field for 11 years. However, as you learn more about yourself through life’s experiences, you realise that work is not life rather work is only a tiny part of life. This is what we sometimes forget. It is easy to go to autopilot, wake up the next day and think I have to deliver this task or this project. Log out and still you are thinking about work, how to get the computer code that you have been tinkering to work or the content of your presentation. All for the name of work.
Relapse
This is where I got myself stuck again. Work was creeping back into my personal life to a point that I barely invest in myself.
Hence, I miss you! You, the part in me that is fun, bold, creative and open to whatever life throws at me and even my sense of peace. This was disrupted until today. I realised that I have not been taking care of myself like I normally do and the project that I am working on at my day job has been consuming most of my brainpower even when I logged out. The last 3 months had been hectic. The only routine that I have been consistently doing is my meditation twice a day. This alone is slowly slipping away because I was not sleeping much during at night thinking about my day job and the next morning when I meditate I was too sleepy. Meditating was becoming a chore than a bliss.
Lack of sleep
Which lead to my next point, lack of sleep. This one is a killer! The moment you stop getting the right amount of sleep based on your circadian rhythm then things are about to go downhill. Your serotonin goes down – happy chemicals in your brain. As a result, your brain thinks you are in hunger mode or lack of fuel then it tries to send different signals to your body that you need “sugar”! Yes, sugar especially high carbs food to compensate for the chemicals lacking in your brain.
Cravings with vengeance
Believe me, the cravings went back with vengeance! I was on sugar cravings for all desserts, cream tea for lunch and appetiser for supper (yikes!). I ate lots of crisps with cheese, ice creams with brownies and strawberries with chocolate glazing! Yup, I was overindulging and to a point that my skin was slowly breaking out.
I started to binge-watch different films or watch Youtube as my way of shutting from my day job. I was buying takeaway meals because I couldn’t bother to cook. Takeaway food is not as healthy as home cook meals aside from the fact that it is so much cheaper to cook at home.
When you just thought it couldn’t get any worse, there were more. I was no longer investing in myself. You see, every after my day job, I made a habit to read for at least one hour a day. Learn new ideas and learn from authors. I was too busy helping other people that I was neglecting my personal growth! I used to read one book every week and I realised I barely touch my e-book let alone my hard copy books. I felt I was drowning and I was slowly losing control of my reality!
How did I know this?
Well, I just broke down during my 1-2-1 with my boss!
All of I sudden I was projecting my frustrations outward as though the world owes me! Then it hit me and I realised I was really in deep trouble. I was relapsing and something drastic must be changed quickly. Otherwise, it would be too late and I would be undoing the hard work I have been investing in myself and my overall wellbeing. I was checking my previous blog and I realised I stopped growing, I stopped making time for myself and I was slipping back again to the old habit which was living to work.
Bouncing back
When I realised this, I went in and reviewed what were the things that make me enjoy being me, being myself – this is why I am blogging and sharing this journey with you. This is one of the things that I missed a lot. By sharing my imperfections so you, who is reading this now, can relate and hopefully help you face your journey knowing that you are not alone! I have selected two books that I am going to finish in the next 4 weeks. I have cut down massively my sugar intake and I am working on to re-adjust my sleep pattern. No more binge-watching and simply quiet nights with my books!
There is nothing wrong with relapse, slipping back to the old habits.
What truly matters is how you pick yourself up again, recompose and reframe your life again back on track. In this adventure that is called life, there is always sit backs and this is fine too. Just never stay there, never give up and be honest with yourself. Reach out to the inner side of you, your Higher Self – listen to it. Equally important, trust the timing of your life because you are where you need to be!
When we only train our brain to look for red cars, we only see red cars and ignore the others.
If we only train our brain to look for political disputes, war, injustice and unfairness in the world, then we only see those negative situations around the world.
However, when we are mindful of what we choose to see, train ourselves to see kindness, then we start seeing kindness and compassion around the world.
What we put out there, the Universe mirrors it back to us by showing our true nature.
If we put out anger, hatred, betrayal and disappointment, then we only see what we want to see: greed, war and injustice around us. We only narrow our perspective within the limits of what we believe the world can do to us.
We always say that the world is not fair, and we always put ourselves as the victim. We point fingers easily when things are not working the way we plan it or when the world does not meet our expectations.
But we often fail at looking from within maybe, we too have contributed to what we see us an unfair world. Maybe our actions have led to pain and inequality to others through judgement or through ill feelings toward others.
We often say that there are too many inequalities and too many poor than the rich. Whilst this may be true that the world is not built equal nor there is a balance of power amongst people. This does not mean we stop believing in people. We stop believing that there is still kindness and positive people around us.
If we give up on us, in humanity, then what chance do we have in making this world a better place for everyone. Even if it means being kind to ourselves and treat people kindly like how we want others to treat us. It is easy to judge and dismiss people for their wrongdoing especially when it does not fit within the confines of the law of the land and within the morality of humans or ethics. Most often than not we easily judge prostitution as a way of work or we are quick to say that those people working as prostitutes or escorts go to hell or filthy. However, what we did not know is how they even get to that situation of being a prostitute. Perhaps it is the only work they know or perhaps their life is in danger or a relative is in the hands of an organised crime or they are slaves of sexual trafficking. There are endless reasons and we are judging people what is obvious to us or on the surface. I am not saying to be oblivion and tolerate those who go against the law of the land. But to be mindful of how we throw our judgement to others whether it is within the law or not.
Whilst the law is there to try to protect us, to keep peace and order. Let’s not forget war and corruption have been there since the beginning of time. We are all capable of drawing to the positive or the negative side, it is human nature. This is the basic principle of nature that negative and positive exist to keep the balance. Yin and Yang. It is like your car battery, negative node must exist equally with the positive, not because one is superior to the other but are required for it to work. Conventional thinking finds this concept difficult to comprehend and therefore, it is quick to say so we should do negative things as it is acceptable. All I am trying to impart is that things have a bigger purpose and bigger reason. Each situation in our lives is architected in a way to contribute to the big picture: negative or positive. What we might see as a horrible incident like mass murder, at a glance, it is an awful thing to happen. However, in the big picture, the situation might have led the family to walk a path that is needed in the world at the time and to force change within the law of the land. There is always a ripple effect in every action. Everything has its consequences. When we are in a tough situation it is hard to see reasons nor see the wisdom in that situation. We only learn it in retrospect.
Therefore, understanding the law of nature should allow us to live in this lifetime with compassion and kindness to one another regardless of background, race, financial status and past deeds. It helps us to live a life free from despair, anger and greed. It helps us lead a life with harmony by making a difference in the lives of others.
If we see a world that there are still kind and honest people then we are one day closer to living in a better place.
Let us start the change within ourselves and let us stop pointing our fingers. Let us stop blaming the government, the rich or our boss for the situation that we are in now.
We always have a choice even though we might think there are none. We have our Free Will and it is time to exercise it to start the change from within.
We may not be able to live longer to see the world we dream but at least in our lifetime, we get to lead a life where we start the change within us and relay the change outward, to the world around us. Only then we can start seeing the ripple change in the world and the Universe knows how to mirror it back. When we put out kindness and compassion, we receive a thousandfold of kindness and compassion from the Universe.
Do it because it is part of us, it is also in human nature that we are capable of being kind to one another and not because of what the Universe might reward us.
Until next time, go now with love, peace and light!
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