WHAT IS DATA PRIVACY DAY?
Led by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), Data Privacy Day began in the United States and Canada in January 2008 as an extension of the Data Protection Day celebration in Europe. Observed annually on January 28, Data Protection Day commemorates the signing of Convention 108 on January 28, 1981, the first legally binding international treaty dealing with privacy and data protection,
Data breaches continue to grow in size and scope – exposing consumer’s private data and valuable business information assets. Against this backdrop, Data Privacy Day helps spread awareness about privacy and educates citizens on how to secure their personal information. It also works to encourage businesses to be more transparent about how they collect and use data.
WHY WE SHOULD CARE ABOUT ONLINE PRIVACY
Today, we conduct much of our lives on the internet and on our connected devices, yet few people understand that enormous amounts of personal information that is collected and shared. This data can be stored indefinitely, and our personal information can be used in both beneficial and unwelcome ways. Even seemingly innocuous information - such as your favorite restaurants or items you purchase online - can be used to make inferences about your socioeconomic status, preferences, and more.
Many companies can monitor their users and customers' personal behavior and sell the data for profit. To make informed decisions and understand the true value of their data, consumers need to understand how it is collected, used, and shared.
OWN YOUR PRIVACY
Individuals are feeling an increasing lack of control over their personal data. However, there are steps we can all take to learn about the types of data you are generating online, and how it is collected, shared, and used.
Follow these basic privacy tips to help you better manage your personal information and make informed decisions about who receives your data.
PERSONAL INFO IS LIKE MONEY: VALUE IT. PROTECT IT.
Personal information, such as your purchase history, IP address, or location, has tremendous value to businesses – just like money. Make informed decisions about whether to share your data with certain businesses by considering the amount of personal information they are asking for and weighing it against the benefits you may receive in return.
KEEP TABS ON YOUR APPS.
Many apps ask for access to personal information, such as your geographic location, contacts list and photo album, before you can use their services. Be thoughtful about who gets that information, and wary of apps that require access to information that is not required or relevant for the services they are offering. Delete unused apps on your internet-connect devices and keep others secure by performing updates.
MANAGE YOUR PRIVACY SETTINGS.
Check the privacy and security settings on web services and apps and set them to your comfort level for information sharing. Each device, application, or browser you use will have different features to limit how and with whom you share information. Get started with NCSA’s Manage Your Privacy Settings page.
-Submitted by Jonathan Wagner