One of the many uncomfortable realities that we all are increasingly obliged to accept, at least on a practical level, is that the many gadgets that power our personal and professional lives can’t ever be fully shielded from prying eyes.

That said, there are ways to at least partially shore up our cell phones, tablets, laptops and other assorted paraphernalia to achieve a passable sense of security, which requires a certain savvy about existing technologies and how to stay on top of new developments as well as potential vulnerabilities.

Christopher Soghoian of the American Civil Liberties Union recently paid a virtual visit to the “Democracy Now!” set to give host Amy Goodman a few tips on how existing technologies — Apple’s FaceTime, for one — help users keep their communications secure. He also discussed how to find apps that offer additional encryption features and why consumers shouldn’t depend on telecom companies to protect their private data.

Watch and learn in the “Democracy Now!” video clip posted below, and click here for the first part of Soghoian’s conversation with Goodman.

–Posted by Kasia Anderson