Everything We Do Is Being Monitored
In the latest episode of krone.tv’s science program Wiener Wissen (aired July 27, 2025), Laura Kovacs and Georg Weissenbacher warned that digital threats increasingly permeate everyday life and urged the public to be far more cautious with their data.
Laura Kovacs cautioned that many actors “exploit, hack, and attack our computer systems and carry out cyberattacks.” Georg Weissenbacher highlighted the trade‑off behind “free” online services: “If you’re not paying for the product, then you are the product. Everything we do is monitored by someone.” He argues that IT systems — servers, computers, mobile phones, etc. — are under constant threat, and that no system can ever be 100% secure. That’s why it’s important to keep the bar really high; this starts with system design (using rigorous, formal development methods).
But users also need to be careful: keep your systems up to date, use two‑factor authentication, and think twice about whether you really need an app or a service — and if it’s free, ask yourself why a company would offer it for free. TUW scientists noted that social‑engineering attacks occur by phone (vishing): seemingly harmless calls with “three or four questions” can be enough for people to divulge sensitive information.
Please access the video by visiting Kronen Zeitung
