Data Privacy Week was observed last month (Jan. 27-31), but your personal information needs to be closely protected year-round.
According to the National Cybersecurity Alliance, Data Privacy Week is designed to educate individuals and organizations about the importance of online privacy: “The goal is twofold – to help citizens understand that they have the power to manage their data and to help organizations understand why it is important that they respect their users’ data.”
Reinforcing this important mission, we offer some helpful and practical tips that can be used right away:
- Never share personal information with anyone who contacts you unexpectedly.
- Be skeptical of suspicious emails, text messages and telephone calls that purport to need your personal information. If you have concerns, verify the identity of the caller by contacting their organization or agency using only contact information you know to be legitimate.
- Consider subscribing to a VPN (virtual private network) to help encrypt your data on your internet-connected devices. More information about the value of a VPN is located here.
- Consider placing an initial fraud alert or a security freeze on your credit reports.
- Use strong passwords that are hard to guess and change them regularly. Passwords should be at least 12 characters and include capital and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters.
- Set a passcode on your smartphone.
- When offered, turn on two-factor or multi-factor authentication to access your online accounts. This can help protect your data even if your password is stolen.
- Research and consider using privacy-focused browsing modes on your internet browser. You can also consider using privacy-focused search engines.
- Adjust your privacy settings and review them regularly. For example, every social-media site and app has privacy settings that control what you share. Familiarize yourself with the settings, understand what they mean and know how to change them to meet your privacy needs.
- Read and understand privacy policies associated with the sources asking for your personal information. When in doubt, don’t give it out.
- Exercise caution on social media. Recognize that information you post may be shared with people and networks beyond your intended audience. Be more mindful about what you post and think through the potential consequences before sharing.
- Dispose of devices responsibly. Remember that even small pieces of equipment — such as jump drives or memory cards — may contain information that you’ll want to clear before discarding them.
For more general cybersecurity tips, visit www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov and review the Cybersecurity Help, Information and Protection Program (CHIPP) booklet as well as Social Media Pointers for Parents.