Introduction
In an increasingly connected world, our personal data—everything from the apps we use, to the smart devices in our homes, to the services we access online—is more exposed than ever. With 2026 looming, the question isn’t if data will be targeted, but how much less safe it will become if we don’t prepare.
The video raises concerns about what will change in data security by 2026, what threats are coming, and what you (as an individual or organisation) should be doing now to stay ahead.
What’s Changing by 2026
Here are some of the major shifts the video highlights (and that current research supports).
1. Threat landscape is escalating
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Attackers are getting more sophisticated. AI tools and automation are making network intrusions, phishing, insider threats and data-exfiltration harder to detect.
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The sheer volume of data being generated, stored and shared continues to grow. More endpoints, more cloud services, more devices = more opportunities for breaches.
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Regulation, geopolitical risk and global inter-connectivity all play a role: cross-border data flows, supply chains in different countries, legacy systems in older infrastructure.
2. The old rules won’t suffice anymore
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Traditional perimeter defenses, simple password systems, and basic encryption are increasingly insufficient.
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By 2026 we’ll need to treat every app, device or user connection as potentially compromised — more of a “zero-trust” mindset.
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Data governance, visibility and classification become more important: you can’t protect what you don’t know you have.
3. Regulatory & compliance pressure is rising
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New laws are coming into effect globally: in the EU, in the U.S., and elsewhere. These address not just data theft, but how data is used, shared, and processed (especially with AI).
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The cost of non-compliance grows: fines, reputational damage, business interruption.
4. The role of AI and emerging tech
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Both sides of the game are using AI: attackers to find new vulnerabilities, and defenders to try to stop them.
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Quantum computing looms as a longer-term risk to encryption and data protection infrastructure.
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Edge computing, IoT devices, and remote work have added new vectors for attack.
Key Risks to Watch
The video (and corroborating sources) point to several specific threats you should keep on your radar.
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Insider threats: whether malicious or negligent, insiders (employees, contractors, partners) remain a significant attack surface.
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Advanced phishing / social engineering: With better tools (deep-fakes, voice clones) attackers can craft more believable attacks.
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Legacy systems & shadow IT: Old tech that never got upgraded, or unsanctioned apps in the organisation, are weak links.
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Data sprawl & classification gaps: When organisations or individuals lose track of where sensitive data lives, it becomes a target.
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AI-enabled attacks: Attackers leveraging large language models (LLMs) to craft attacks, find vulnerabilities, or automate exploitation.
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Post-quantum risk: While not a daily risk yet for everyone, the clock is ticking on encryption algorithms—preparation matters.
What You Should Be Doing Now
Since waiting until 2026 is too late, here are practical steps you can take to prepare.
For individuals
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Regularly review your online accounts: enable multi-factor authentication (MFA), use strong unique passwords (or better: passphrases), consider a password manager.
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Review device security: keep software updated, limit apps you grant permissions, think about the smart-home devices you have.
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Be mindful of what data you share, and where it resides. For example, do you know which services store your info and how they protect it?
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Monitor for identity theft / data breaches: be aware of alerts, check your credit or related services if available.
For organisations
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Map your data: know what data you hold, where it lives, who has access, and how it moves.
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Classify and prioritise: not all data is equal. Make sure your highest-risk assets have the strongest protection.
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Adopt a zero-trust or least-privilege model: assume trust must be earned for every access request.
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Invest in detection and response: it’s not enough to try blocking everything; you need to know when things go wrong and recover quickly.
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Prepare for regulation: build governance structures, document decision-making around data and AI, stay ahead of compliance obligations.
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Train your people: technology helps, but human behaviour remains a major risk factor. Phishing drills, awareness, role-based training help.
Why This Matters
Here are a few reasons this isn’t just “one more tech risk”.
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Data is at the heart of modern business: loss of trust, downtime, regulatory penalties and remediation costs are real and significant.
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The pace of change continues to accelerate: new tech (AI, edge computing, IoT) means yesterday’s assumptions may no longer hold.
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Individual privacy is merging with organisational security: we all touch services, devices and platforms that are part of larger ecosystems.
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Preparing now gives you a chance to shape the future rather than simply reacting when something breaks.
Bottom Line
Yes, your data can be safe in 2026—but it won’t happen by accident. Whether you’re an individual, running a small team, or leading a larger organisation, you’ll need to evolve your mindset and controls. Start with what you know (your assets, your vulnerabilities) and build from there.
If you like, I can pull out 10-15 actionable tips from the video that translate to clear tasks you can implement today. Would you like me to do that?