It is an age where your smartphones and tablets know more about your interests, your food habits, the people you interact with on daily basis and random information you seek than your family and friends. In this world where technology plays such an important role, author and computer security consultant Ankit Fadia’s latest book Social 50 Ways To Improve Your Professional Life gives a glimpse of apps that will help the layperson in their professional lives.
“The book is a collection of 50 apps, tips and advice on how people can use technology to improve their professional life,” says Ankit. “For example, an app called refresh allows you to get a small dossier on people you meet in a professional setting, sourced from their Facebook or Twitter pages. It will help you have a better interaction with your clients. Another app is the smarter inbox that would source the Facebook and Twitter feeds of people you interact with professionally and will give a personal touch to professional relationships.”
He adds, “Many of these apps are used on a regular basis abroad. However, they are yet to make inroads in India. I think that these apps will help enhance your professional life. My book is not tech heavy. The language is simple. It is a general book on a host of generic issues related to technology.”
Apart from working on books related to technology, Ankit runs a computer security consultancy firm and also conducts workshops for professionals on security.
Ankit’s work has often come under fire by critics, especially on online forums. Ankit is not very perturbed by these allegations. “The computer security space in India is very competitive. I started as a geek, but soon had a show on MTV and received a fair amount of limelight. That changed the perceptions of many geeks. They felt that they were better than me and deserved a similar stage.”
He admits, “I have never claimed that I am the best hacker in the country. Whatever I know, I try to share with other people. I try to learn from everyone. Those who do not agree with my views are free to write their own books and share their own knowledge with the world at large.”
Coming back to issues of securing information online, Ankit says, “We put up everything online. This may have many ramifications. I always tell people to customise their privacy settings online. It will ensure that you are safe. With newer gadgets flooding the market, privacy concerns are bound to increase.”
Ankit quips, “As far as governmental interference is concerned, it is a two-way street. People should refrain from posting anything online that they would not in real life.”
