January 28th is Data Privacy Day (DPD)! DPD is an international event that educates end users on the importance of safely managing personal information and spreads awareness about privacy, especially online.
Data privacy includes how a user’s personal information is shared with third party services online. Personal information encompasses full name, date of birth, medical history, address, social security number, drivers license number, and other identifying information.
Online activity generates data whether it is personal, health, or behavior related. Learn about the types of data your online activities generate, and how companies and websites collect, share, and use your data.
- Privacy vs. Convenience – Examine what information online accounts ask for when you create them (photo services, contacts, precise geographic location, credit card information, etc). Weigh the amount of personal information you are providing with the convenience you are receiving from the services. Consider deleting unused apps and services that ask you to share more information than is required.
- Privacy Settings – Check the security settings on online accounts; do not rely on the default settings as they may not reflect your preferences. Limit how much information you share, and with whom. Regularly revisit your privacy settings because options may have changed and the change may have reset your account to default settings. To view policies and settings for many popular services, see the National Cybersecurity Alliance web page, Manage Your Privacy Settings for direct links.
- Passwords – Keep your data safe by using long, unique, hard-to-guess passwords. Do not reuse passwords. Consider using a password manager and multi-factor authentication on available accounts for an added layer of security and protection.
Other tips relating to data privacy:
- Beware of phishing attempts and other similar scams.
A rule of thumb is, if you were not expecting a message, do not click on embedded links, open attachments, or enable a macro unless you have confirmed the legitimacy of the message using another means of communication, such as a trusted phone number. - Take your time to thoroughly review and confirm message legitimacy, even when there is a sense of urgency expressed. Deals that sound too good to be true usually are.
- Do not use public Wi-Fi especially for performing transactions or accessing sensitive information. Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is recommended when using Wi-Fi, as it prevents your data from being intercepted.