Data Privacy Week is a global initiative led by the National Cybersecurity Alliance to raise awareness of the importance of protecting personal information online. This year’s theme – “Take Control of Your Data” – encourages consumers to manage their digital footprint in meaningful ways.
Before sharing or granting access to your data, keep in mind that:
Every click, search, and purchase creates a digital trail. This data is often collected by apps, websites and devices – and can be sold or used to profile and profit from you.
Even if you can’t control every piece of data collected, you do have the right to privacy. It’s essential to both understand and exercise these rights.
To protect the personal data you share:
- Adjust privacy settings on apps and devices.
Most apps and devices have default settings that may allow more data sharing than you would prefer. Take time to review and customize these settings to limit access to your location, contacts, camera, microphone, and other sensitive data. This helps reduce unnecessary exposure of personal information.
- Regularly review permissions for apps and services.
Over time, apps may accumulate permissions that are no longer necessary. Periodically check which apps have access to your data, and revoke permissions that seem excessive or dated. This minimizes the risk of data misuse.
- Be cautious about what you share online.
Think twice before posting personal details such as your full birth date, address, or travel plans on social media or public forums. Cybercriminals can use this information to guess passwords, answer security questions, or even impersonate you.
Changing your passwords periodically – especially for banking, email, health-care, and other sensitive accounts – helps protect against long-term breaches. If a company you use experiences a data breach, an immediate password change can prevent further damage.
Data is constantly being collected on everything from smartwatches to social media. Even seemingly harmless information – your favorite coffee shop, sports team, or university, for example – can be used to infer personal information. Data Privacy Week serves as a reminder that you deserve a say in how your data is used.
To keep your personal information private:
- Review app and device settings.
- Set and review privacy settings on your device. This usually can be done in your user settings.
- Check each app’s permissions (location, camera, microphone, etc.).
- Disable unnecessary tracking features.
- Close apps when done using them.
- Manage your online presence.
- Review privacy settings on social media.
- Remove old or unused accounts.
- Think before you share personal information online.
- Clean up your digital footprint.
- Clear browser cookies and history regularly.
- Use private browsing or tracker-blocking tools.
- Unsubscribe from unwanted emails and services.
- Stay informed.
- Learn about your data rights (www.staysafeonline.org).
- Read privacy policies before accepting terms.
- Follow trusted sources for cybersecurity tips.