Protection of electronic communications

You can protect electronic communications on your own

It is recommended that every Internet user carefully consider which communications services to use, and find out the protection measures they require. If necessary, you can increase the protection of confidential messages and, for example, the protection of wireless local network access on your own.

The confidentiality of messages delivered in Finnish communications services and information networks is protected by legislation in Finland. Without a right prescribed under law or the consent of a party to the communication in question, no-one has the right to process another person’s messages or identification data related to communication.

Not all countries ensure as good a protection for the confidentiality of communications. Even though the service language would be Finnish, the service is not necessarily implemented in Finland and neither does the handling of data comply with Finnish legislation.

Examples of popular communications services with foreign background are

• Hotmail and Gmail e-mail services;
• Skype internet telephone service; and
• Messenger instant messaging service.

When you consider the protection of a message

• determine the services you use and identify the purposes for which any information you submit will be used; and
• assess which messages need protection.

FICORA has compiled instructions on how to protect

• e-mail communications;
• surfing on the Web;
• instant messaging; and
• the wireless local network.