Mud Puddle Problem

When it comes to security of the apps you use and the device you chose, I think it’s best to consider the Mud Puddle problem. That may not be a term you’ve heard but it’s very important to understanding how threat actors think about your device.

For instance, let’s say you drop your phone in a puddle of mud and it ceases working. You try everything you can to clean it up but it stops working. If you can take it to some store and some genius can recover your data off of the device, it has failed the mud puddle problem.

The basic concept is this. If there is a way that a stranger can take your device and resurrect the data out of it, it means an adversary can do it as well. That is why it is always best to ask vendors how your data is secured. Can they recover your information after you’ve deleted it? Can they recover it after your account has been erased? Can they recover it if your device has been crushed in an anvil? If the answer is yes, then probably many people have access to your data whether you or they realize that or not.

It’s something to consider as you consider which products and services to use.