Data Privacy Week is held the third full week in January and is one of the first events of the year to make people more aware of their personal and data security. This global initiative encourages people to review and take additional steps to protect their digital footprint.
What is Data Privacy?
Let’s start with privacy. It’s generally considered the right not to be observed or disturbed by others. The exact meaning of privacy varies is different among cultures, but you can think of it as your right to keep your information to yourself. Data privacy is similar, but in today’s digital age, your online activities generate a boatload of data, and guess what? Businesses are ready to pay big money to get their hands on that data. From your name, birthday, and medical records to the little things, like what you’re shopping for and how long you look at a webpage – advertisers know their ads will be more effective if they can tailor their message directly to you.
Data privacy is your right to keep your data safe, and share it only with those you want it shared with. While you might not want to share information like how much money you make with some organizations, you don’t have a choice but to share that information with the IRS. However, knowing your data privacy rights lets you choose when and where to share your digital data.
Cybersecurity and data privacy are not the same thing. Data privacy is about setting rules and making choices about who gets access to your data. Cybersecurity, on the other hand, is all about preventing attackers from accessing data you don’t want them to access. Unfortunately, hackers are increasingly finding ways to snatch your data. While cybersecurity plays helps protect your data, data privacy is about making sure your data stays away from the websites and businesses you don’t want to have it.
Why is Data Privacy a Big Deal?
You probably don’t care if someone knows about your latest shopping spree, but it’s pretty creepy when you’ve searched for something and now every ad on every page is for that thing. No one wants random marketers blowing up their phone or popping into their emails. What’s even more creepy is that your email provider or a browser plug-in you installed is probably reading your emails and selling that information to advertisers as well. If you’re not staying on top of your data privacy, everything you do online can be seen and sold.
You can’t hide everything. That maps app needs to know where you are and where you’re going to give you directions, but the power is in your hands. You can choose how much data you want to that app to store and share. It’s a balancing act, and knowing about data privacy helps you make choices that feel right.
It’s a great idea to check your privacy settings on a regular basis. Regular security updates are becoming the norm for all sorts of devices and websites. Operating systems, apps, and online sites release new features, bug fixes, and security patches and a regular basis, so checking your privacy settings, ensures your data is protected with the latest defenses against emerging threats. This includes improving protections for accessing your personal information, such as strengthening passwords, using unique passwords for every login, and enabling two-factor authentication.
New data protection regulations, such as GDPR and CCPA also continue to evolve, giving you more control over your personal data. There are probably a lot more options for seeing what data a company has and even more options for protecting that information than the last time you looked. If companies don’t have your information, it can’t be stolen by hackers. So, check and change your data privacy and sharing settings, delete old information, and adjust your privacy controls to cut down on the amount of personal data these devices and websites have about you. This is particularly true when it comes to social media, where many personalities have been criticized for post they’ve made. Even if you’re not a celebrity, you may not want a current or future employer viewing opinions or information you’ve shared previously on social media. Regular privacy checks help maintain control over your online presence and safeguard your digital reputation, preventing unintended consequences and misunderstandings.
How you can take control of what data you share!
Data privacy is quite personal. You generate lots of data every time you search the internet, and even when you’re not online. Your home address, health records, and tax information are all pieces of data that are being collected. Some of it is for good reason – since you probably want your doctor to remember what you last talked about. While you can’t always control the fact that your data is being collected, you can take charge of how and with whom you share data with in many cases.
Around Silicon Valley, there’s a an adage, “data is the new oil,” and your data is worth a lot of money to many different businesses and organizations, including fraudsters. However, we don’t often value our own data story as much as they do. We can all be more aware of who we share our data with and what we expect in return. Fortunately, it appears some people are becoming more aware: a recent McKinsey survey found that 71% of consumers said they would stop doing business with a company if it gave away sensitive data without permission. There’s another Silicon Valley adage to remember as well, “if you’re not paying for it, you aren’t the customer, you’re the product.” In most cases, this proves true. To be more accurate, your data is the product. It’s mostly advertisers and other marketing companies buying your data, and it makes up a slice of this multibillion bonanza. Fortunately, there are a few simple things you can do.
Here are some tips on how to take charge of your data privacy:
1. KNOW WHAT YOU CAN’T CONTROL
The truth is, you can’t control who has access to every bit and byte of your data. The IRS, for example, will find out how much money you make, and your doctor needs to know about your health history. Many online services require some of your data to function – a maps app can’t suggest directions if it doesn’t know where you are (at least while you are using it), and if you want to share pictures with family and friends, social media sites need access to your photos. There is always a tradeoff between convenience and privacy. To use all the features of your devices, apps, and software, you will often have to share more and more data. By understanding this balance, you can make better informed data decisions.
2. CREATE A DATA PRIVACY HABIT
Apps, websites, devices, and software will often try to get more data out of you than you would think is necessary. For example, why does an app for playing solitaire need to know your location? Why does a social media app need to know the phone numbers of everyone you know? Here is where you can really take charge of your data.
Fortunately, many web browsers, computers, and devices will ask you if you want to share certain types of data with a new app or website. Strike up a habit of paying attention to these requests and actually thinking about your answers. Here are common types of data you might be asked for:
- Your location
- Your contacts
- Your photos and camera
- Data about your behavior and use of a service
When asked for the data, think about what you want to share. On mobile devices, you can often decide if you want an app to only have access to this data while using it. If an app or software program refuses to function unless you share certain data that you don’t think it needs (like the solitaire app demanding your location), find another app. Generally, you might feel more secure erring on always limiting how much data you share when asked.
3. CHECK YOUR SETTINGS
Even if an app or software program never asks you for data, you should assume it is still collecting it. Routinely (every month or so) check your privacy settings and ensure everything fits within your comfort level. You can access app and software permissions through your device’s settings. Remember, apps will often ask for you to give them access permissions at all times, but you usually only need to give them permissions for while you are using the app. Here are some default settings you should usually turn off, unless you need it for the app to function and you trust the app.
- Camera – off
- Microphone – off
- Location – off
- Sync contacts – off
Data Privacy Week is a great reminder to take a look at your privacy settings across social media platforms, fortify your identity with strong passwords, and review the privacy policies of the sites you regularly visit. Take the time to evaluate who can see what information you share in your digital world. Remember, you are the strongest defense against privacy threats.