Data privacy, also known as information privacy or data protection, is defined as the relationship between information and the way it is handled. Living in the digital age, the amount of information found and shared online can be overwhelming. While we often share our happy moments, cool photos and accomplishments on social media, we don’t tend to share our critical personal information, which, according to Norton LifeLock, includes our Social Security number, health and medical records and financial records. This, however, does not mean that others can’t gain access to this information.
Data Privacy Day is an international holiday, held on Jan. 28, that is meant to raise awareness of data privacy and promote how to protect it.
StaySafeOnline, a website powered by the National Cyber Security Alliance, states that “Millions of people are unaware of and uninformed about how their personal information is being used, collected or shared in our digital society.”
Data privacy is crucial because, in the wrong hands, bad things could happen, and with the recent government website hacks that have occurred, now, more than ever, is the time to secure your data online. Here are some ways to keep your data secured online.
Backup your data
It’s important to backup your data, especially if you store a lot of important documents on your device. If the system crashes, there’s a hard drive failure or you get hacked, it might be crucial for you to get back what you lost. Using an off-site online backup service, such as Carbonite or IDrive, is like putting your data in a safety deposit box, which is encrypted, highly secured and easy to retrieve.
The stronger the password, the better
While having a long password can be a nuisance, it is vital for securing your data and privacy. It is also a good idea to change your passwords annually. If you’re forgetful, try having a journal or note on your computer with a password list. When it comes to passwords, being creative and using a variety of characters including capital and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols can make it very difficult for someone to hack into your information. The more unique your passwords are, the more secure your data will be.
Be wise about Wi-Fi
While free and public Wi-Fi may seem like the lifesaver when you don’t have a hotspot or access to a private network, it highly increases your chances of having your information stolen. Using a VPN, or a virtual private network that extends a private network across a public network, can make your Internet activity hacker-proof. If you’re using a public computer, be aware that you don’t know who was the person using the computer before you. Therefore, delete your history and assure that no personal information was saved to prevent your information from getting into the wrong hands.
Oversharing is NOT caring
When you post too much about yourself, you can become an easy target for identity theft. To state the obvious, it is not recommended to post very personal information, like your Social Security number, addresses, phone or account numbers, on social sites, but something not-so-obvious is the information you share about yourself when filling out online forms. Companies and sites ask you for your data because they want to collect, use or even sell your information. Be cautious and aware of what you sign yourself up for.
Close unused accounts
We all have that old embarrassing email address that we don’t want to talk about. However, keeping open unused accounts can open the door to the information stored on those accounts being used or sold without you realizing it. Closing or deactivating old accounts you don’t use anymore, whether they are old email accounts or social media accounts, can keep your data safe.
Be alert for impersonators
Getting unsolicited phone calls and emails are things to be aware about. Individuals can pose as authority figures or representatives of companies to get a hold of your data. Don’t give out personal information over the phone or in emails. Learn to spot scammers and impersonators by doing your research on where these individuals are coming from. Look up the company name or person’s name to assure they are who they say they are.
Photo: D. Topkin
