Welcome to a brand-new year and a new opportunity to take charge of your data privacy by becoming a data snob!
What's a data snob?
We believe that understanding and practicing data privacy goes hand-in-hand with identity protection and by becoming a “data snob” – someone who truly values their online privacy – you take a huge step in guarding against identity theft and fraud. So from January 21-27, we’re supporting Data Privacy Week, a global effort to empower and educate people to protect their privacy and control their digital footprint.
But why should you care about data privacy? And what can you do to celebrate Data Privacy Week?
Data privacy isn’t just a buzzword – it affects every aspect of your life. Your personal information is valuable, and it can be used for good or bad. It can help you access services, connect with others, and express yourself. But it can also be exploited, stolen, or misused by hackers, scammers, or even companies and governments.
That’s why data privacy matters. And that’s why Data Privacy Week is a great opportunity to take action and improve your privacy habits.
Here are some tips to help you celebrate Data Privacy Week and protect your personal information online:
Know what you can (and can’t) control when it comes to privacy.
You can’t control everything that happens online, but you can control how much information you share and who you share it with. Be mindful of what you post on social media, what you sign up for, and what permissions you grant to apps and websites. Read the privacy policies and terms of service before you agree to anything. And use strong passwords and encryption tools to secure your data.
Make privacy a daily habit.
Privacy isn’t something you do once and forget about it. It’s something you need to practice every day. That means updating your software regularly, deleting your browsing history and cookies periodically, using a VPN or a private browser, and opting out of tracking and advertising where possible. You should also take the time to review, update, and add any personal information to your Dark Web Monitoring list so we can alert you as soon as possible if your information has been compromised online so you can take action to protect your identity.
Check your privacy settings in the apps you use.
Many apps collect more information than they need, and they may share it with third parties without your consent. This can pose a risk to your privacy and security, as well as affect your user experience and device performance. That’s why you should check your privacy settings in the apps you use and adjust them according to your preferences. You can do this on your phone by using tools like Android’s permission manager or iOS’s App Privacy Report to see which apps are accessing your data and how they’re using it.
Take the time to delete the apps you don't use (and why that's important).
Do you have apps on your phone or computer that you don’t use anymore? If so, you should delete them as soon as possible. Why? Because they may still collect and store your data, even if you don’t open them. And they may pose a security risk if they’re outdated or infected with malware. Deleting the apps you don’t use will free up space on your device and reduce your digital footprint.
We hope these tips will help you celebrate Data Privacy Week and protect your personal information online. Remember, data privacy is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. And it’s up to you to take charge of it.