All-Seeing Digital Eyes by Neville Kattakayam ~ a Review

by MK French

In a world that is becoming increasingly digital, many people are not aware of how to protect themselves or their privacy online. This guide discusses the pros and cons of technology, without intending to sway the reader into making a particular decision about it. From his own admission, Neville Kattakayam wants "to give you relevant information, so that you could take intelligent decisions, about your privacy and security." Part One of the book relates to "Privacy," with ways to secure data on networks. Part Two is "Security," looking at ways to maintain etiquette and outline potential threats. Part Three is "Literacy," outlining tips to become more literate with social media tools to maintain a more positive experience. There is no question that the negative outcomes get airtime in the news, and the risk of cyberbullying and depression is present. This book seeks to mitigate that risk.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

September 2018; 978-1720184133
ebook, print (174 pages); nonfiction

The language in this book is an everyday tone rather than one geared for computer scientists. This makes it approachable for any lay reader and parent, and easily outlines the concepts that people should know about the tools we take for granted. People think of the internet and social media as apps on a cell phone, but the websites, connections between companies, even the diagnostics for modern cars, are all generating, analyzing and interpreting data. For those who have little to no understanding, the advice is outlined clearly on what settings to turn off on a phone, what to look for in software, what is private data and should be protected, what metadata is, and how to track data being gathered about you on Google and Facebook.

Part Two is probably the meatiest part of the book for most people. It outlines the threats to being online, from the problematic but relatively benign trolling to outright doxxing, cyberbullying and hacking. Again, there are pragmatic and discrete steps and pieces of advice given in everyday language to help people understand what the issue is and how to fight it. Because the author has experience in fighting these areas of cybercrime and helping others, the advice is straightforward and current.

Part Three is best for parents of children just starting out with social media and online access. For a lot of teens, the genies are already out of the bottle and impossible to stuff back in. It'll be harder for those parents to get on top of access, but they can still try to guide children and work with them to build critical thinking skills. In fact, a lot of the advice in this section isn't just good for the internet, but for life in general.

Buy All-Seeing Digital Eyes at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and golden retriever.

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