Per Lagerström
Terms & Conditions are legal agreements that pop up when you engage with a website or install an app. By accepting these terms, you might unknowingly grant permission for companies to collect your personal or work-related data, share your information with third parties and sync or track information from your devices.
This means that using a tool that makes your work more efficient also can expose sensitive data – if you accept the terms without thinking. That’s why permissions are so important.
Apps and websites often request access to various parts of our digital life, such as files or emails, calendar or location, contacts or microphone, cloud storage or notifications.
In the blurred space between work and private life, many of us use a work device or account and providing these type of access could lead to:
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client information being shared
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internal data ending up on third-party servers
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confidential meetings or schedules being exposed
What can happen to your data?
If we use websites or apps inapproprately – even if it's unintentional – it can cause data breaches affecting customer privacy, legal issues if GDPR or industry rules are broken and loss of trust from partners and stakeholders.
The reputational damage can of course affect the whole company and lead to financial impact through fines, lawsuits, or lost business opportunities.
Anyone in the organisation can accidentally create a security risk if they don’t stop and think to check what they’re agreeing to. This doesn't affect only you, but also your team, your clients, and your organisations’ reputation.
Avoid being the product
Free tools, especially unlicensed ones, often come with hidden costs. When a service is free to use, it usually means that you – and your behaviour – are the product. Your personal or company data may be collected, sold to third parties, used to develop new services, or for training AI models.
Always think twice before using unlicensed tools for work purposes – data is valuable, and sharing it could put both you and the organisation at risk.
To make safer decisions, follow the Junglemap STAR method:
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Stop: Don’t rush through pop-ups or permissions
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Think: What exactly is being requested? Is this necessary?
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Ask: Is this tool approved for work use?
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React: Adjust settings, ask for help, or say no if you're unsure.
Security is all about habits and behaviours. This simple habit can prevent serious risks to yourself, your team, your company and customers.
We now offer lessons in Terms & Conditions – a perfect complement for the flexible workdays of summer.
With many working remotely or alternating between vacation and work, it’s a great time to boost security awareness. Our new extra lessons are now available – contact us to learn more!
