Data Privacy Week

The sheer volume of data generated about you and your activities online is staggering, which is why data privacy has become a defining issue of our digital age. Even if you don't care very much, thousands of businesses across the globe pay top dollar to learn about you through this data.  For data privacy week we will cover what data you can stop from being collected, to what you should and should not make available to the public, along with best practices.

 

Keep Your Data Private

Data privacy might seem like an abstract concept, but it couldn't be more personal. Your data is worth a lot of money to many different people, businesses and organizations. but we often don't value our own data story as much as they do. To become a "data snob" and value your data as much as big tech companies do, remember the Silicon Valley adage: if you're not paying for it, you're the product. The global data analytics market was estimated to be worth over $270 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $650 billion by the end of the decade. You and your data makeup a slice of this multibillion-dollar bonanza

Tips!

  • Know what you can't control - It is impossible to control who has access to all of your data. Understand that there is a tradeoff between convenience and privacy. However, it is important to understand that convenience and privacy come at a cost; you may need to share more data in order to fully utilize the features of devices, apps, and software. Therefore, be aware of this balance in order to make better decisions concerning your data. By understanding this balance, you can make more informed data decisions.
  • Cultivate a data privacy habit - Develop a habit of being mindful of data privacy. 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. When signing up for websites, apps, or software, be aware of the type of data requested and think about what you are willing to share. Commonly asked for data includes location, contacts, photos, camera access, and usage behavior. Whenever possible, opt for limiting access to data only when using the app. If an app is not functioning without sharing more data than necessary, search for an alternative. It is recommended to err on the side of caution and limit how much data is shared.
  • Check your settings - Check your device's settings regularly to ensure that all app and software permissions are set according to your comfort level. Default settings to usually turn off include camera, microphone, location, and contact syncing. You can access app and software permissions through your device's general settings. Disallow access to permissions unless they are necessary for the app to function properly and you trust the app. Remember, apps will often ask for you to give them always access to permissions, but you usually only need to give them permissions for while you are using the app.
    • Camera - off
    • Microphone - off
    • Location - off
    • Sync contacts - off
  • Delete apps you don't use - Periodically conduct an "app audit" to evaluate the apps installed on your devices. Consider whether you have used each app recently or if it is collecting and sharing data without you knowing. Many apps will collect and share your device-use data even when you don't use them; you're basically giving away your data. If it has not been used for a few months, delete it to ensure that it does not access any of your data. Remember, you can always reinstall the app if needed.

 

Privacy vs. Convenience

Whenever you sign up for or even just use a service online, all kinds of data is being gathered about you. It is important to make an informed decision on if a given service is worth it for you or not. The following steps are a good start to decide if you actually want a company to have your data.

  • Is the service, app, or game worth the amount or type of personal data they want in return?
  • Can you control your data privacy and still use the service?
  • Is the data requested even relevant for the app or service (that is, "why does a Solitaire game need to know all my contacts")?
  • If you haven't used an app, service, or account in several months, is it worth keeping around knowing that it might be collecting and sharing your data?

Does this app need to know your location?

When giving permissions to an app be sure to check that it has the lowest permissions necessary to function as you need. Solitaire does not and should not need your location or contacts. Privacy settings can generally be adjusted app by app or at a system wide level. Go to https://staysafeonline.org/ to find out more about managing your privacy settings. 

Protect Your Data

Security of your information is crucial to the privacy of it as well. It is important to follow some cybersecurity practices to keep this data secure.

  • Create long (at least 12 characters), unique passwords for each account and device. Use a password manager to store each password – maintaining dozens of passwords securely is now easier than ever.
  • Turn on multifactor authentication (MFA) wherever it is permitted – this keeps your data safe even if your password is compromised.
  • Turn on automatic device, software, and browser updates, or make sure you install updates as soon as they are available.
  • Learn how to identify phishing messages, which can be sent as emails, texts, or direct messages.