Data Privacy Day began in the United States and Canada in January 2008 as an extension of the Data Protection Day celebration in Europe. Data Protection Day commemorates the Jan. 28, 1981, signing of Convention 108, the first legally binding international treaty dealing with privacy and data protection. Data Privacy Day is observed annually on Jan. 28.
The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) officially leads the Data Privacy Day campaign and is advised by a distinguished advisory committee of privacy professionals to help the campaign align with the most current privacy issues in a thoughtful and meaningful way.
Data Privacy Day is the signature event in a greater privacy awareness and education effort. Year-round, NCSA educates consumers on how they can own their online presence and shows organizations how privacy is good for business. NCSA’s privacy awareness campaign is an integral component of STOP. THINK. CONNECT. ™ ‒ the global online safety, security and privacy campaign.
Online Safety Basics
1. Don’t ignore the “update” notices.
Regarding your apps, log-in info, and other third party plug ins. When your device tells you that something you are using is out of date, trust it!
There are scammers out there who are fake and do not have your best interest at heart. Use common sense and if you don’t know what your notice is trying to tell you please ask someone else to help you.
2. Shopping Fraud is a gold mine for hackers.
It’s important to protect yourself when shopping online. Most shopping sites make it easy to store your cards, banks, and other ways you access money because that is what society deemed necessary. Amazon has set the bar for easy shopping. Google will keep your info in your digital wallet. And you don’t even need to talk about PayPal. Our money is in a digital vault.
Verify the website you are purchasing from is valid. Delete old emails that have links or passwords in them. Protect your personal information and make sure they need that info before putting it into an online store. Most importantly, check to make sure the site is security enabled. Look for https:// indicating extra measures are in place to protect your data on their site.
3. Back That Thing Up!
Data can be lost in several types of incidents, including computer malfunctions, theft, viruses, spyware, accidental deletion and natural disasters. So it makes sense to back up your files regularly.
A data backup is a simple, three-step process:
Make copies of your data regularly swap out so your stored data is never outdated more that a few days or weeks.
Select the hardware or method to store your data on a cloud server, external hard drive, or flash drives
Safely store the backup device that holds your copied files in a fire safe or at another location.
4. Keep your business secure.
Do you store client information? I recommend implementing a cyber security plan to protect your customers and guard your business against cyber threats.
Keep your security software current. That includes web browsers, plug ins, and other virus and malware software.
Ensure the use of strong passwords to incorporate authentication processes, and limit access to data and systems to those who require it for their core duty. Also, you should have clear rules for what employees can install and keep on their work computers.
5. Mobile devices have to be protected too.
Use strong passwords, passcodes or other features such as touch identification to lock your devices. Securing your device can help protect your information if your device is lost or stolen and keep prying eyes out.
Information about you, such as the games you like to play, what you search for online and where you shop and live, has value – just like money. Be thoughtful about who gets that information and how it’s collected through apps and websites.
Use security and privacy settings on websites and apps to manage what is shared about you and who sees it.
In conclusion – your information is valuable to hackers. It is up to you to protect it.
You lock your car when you leave it, so why wouldn’t you lock your data and information?