Data Privacy Day 2024: History and 5 Methods To Ensure The Privacy Of Your Data

Data Privacy Day 2024: Data Privacy Day, observed on January 28, is a helpful reminder to prioritize protecting our data as the boundaries between our online and offline lives become increasingly blurred. Even though our world is becoming more and more digital, most of us don’t think about data privacy until after our personal information has been compromised. We must reconsider what we share about ourselves, when and where we share it, and with whom we share it, as our reliance on digital tools to handle every aspect of life grows. Data Privacy Day is a component of the National Cyber Security Alliance’s (NCSA) global campaign, “STOP. THINK. CONNECT,” which focuses on online safety, security, and privacy.

Data Privacy Day History

Data privacy is a necessary, but not particularly novel, requirement of the digital age. For many years, our private information has been in danger. For many years, financial institutions, product manufacturers, political parties, nonprofit organizations, advertising agencies, polling groups, airlines, grocery stores, credit agencies, and many more have gathered, altered, shared, and sold personal data, which is then further manipulated for financial gain. Both legitimately and criminally, the acquisition of personal data has become easier thanks to digital technologies. And with 4.66 billion individuals using the internet regularly worldwide, there is an enormous amount of unprotected data just ready to be stolen.

Few people prioritize data privacy when making their daily to-do list. You probably didn’t think about it this morning when you checked your email, read the news, looked up stock prices, or did any of the other countless other things we do daily to handle our personal and professional lives via technology. When it comes to protecting our most sensitive information from prying eyes that aren’t visible, the majority of us are guilty of becoming complacent. The fact that so many of us are indifferent to data privacy may be since many people do not distinguish between data security and data privacy.

Despite their close relationship and overlap, data security and privacy are not the same thing. The closest comparison we can think of to help you comprehend the differences compares data security to installing bars on your windows to deter burglars. Pulling down the window shades to keep others from seeing what you are wearing, who you live with, what you are making for supper, or what movie you are watching is a better analogy for data privacy.

Few of us end users of technology give data privacy any thought beyond knowing not to share our passwords with anyone. We rely on software and data services providers to protect the personal information they gather from us and require for us to be able to use their goods and services.

The harsh reality is that not everyone who has access to our personal information requires it. We should be blocking these internet strangers who have rightful access to our personal information from doing so since they don’t need it. For everyone who uses a digital device for whatever purpose and considers firewalls and spam software to be sufficient measures to protect their data, Data Privacy Day serves as a crucial wake-up call.

We should remember to treat personal information like money on Data Privacy Day. It is valuable, and we should safeguard it as though our lives relied on it—which they occasionally do.

Ideas for marking Data Privacy Day

Commit to preserving your data’s privacy.

First and foremost, your goal today, should you choose to accept it—and you should—is to start treating data privacy seriously if you are not currently rigorously protecting your personal information. Decide to learn something new about data privacy every day, and then take the appropriate action to protect your personal information.

Study up on the “Internet of Things.”

Spend some time today learning about the connections between all of the electronic gadgets on your own “Internet of Things” and the wider digital cosmos. Your smartphone, modems, TVs, automobiles, refrigerators, house air conditioning and heating systems, smoke alarms, baby monitors, and home alarm systems are all included in this. You understand. Synchronizing with all of these digital devices on your own “internet of me” is more convenient. Take the appropriate action right now to stop the sharing of your data—which is required to synchronize all of these devices—with people who don’t need it but might desire it.

Talk to the “seasoned” citizens about your experience.

Would you please volunteer to teach a lesson or conduct a lecture on data privacy specifically for older folks if you are tech-savvy and enjoy imparting knowledge to others? Seniors benefit most from being shown how to use technology rather than being told how. Before retiring, the majority of the previous WWII generation and a startling proportion of “baby boomers,” or those born between 1946 and 1964, had little to no exposure to computers. Seniors are a popular target for data thieves due to their inability to understand fundamental data protection best practices. By lending your knowledge to these appreciative residents, you can help keep this susceptible population safe from online predators.

National Dapper Your Data Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Data

5 Methods To Ensure The Privacy Of Your Data

• Ensure that the operating systems and apps on your computer and mobile devices are up-to-date.
• Make sure you periodically check and adjust the privacy settings of your web browser, remove any cookies, and empty the cache.
• Whether you rent a router from your internet provider, check with them to see whether you qualify for a new one or for assistance in updating the settings on your existing router. Routers that allow wireless devices to connect to your home internet service are also susceptible to hacking.
• For every online account you have, create a unique password. If you have many accounts and find it difficult to remember them all, you might want to consider subscribing to a password generator tool that generates a random password for each account, requiring you to remember just one.
• Because not all data thieves operate online, shred any hard copy (paper) copies of invoices, bank records, tax paperwork, legal papers, magazine labels, envelopes, and sales receipts that include any personal information.

Reasons To Care About Data Privacy Day

It prompts us to exercise caution.

Your complacency is a data hacker’s best buddy. We’ll say it again: A data hacker’s best friend is your complacency.

Eliminates the chance of identity theft

Identity theft is possibly the most disastrous outcome of being careless with protecting your personal information. If you suspect someone else is using your identity, they have most likely already severely damaged your credit report and your name. Identity thieves are difficult to apprehend and leave a terrible mess that you will have to pay to be cleaned up. And fixing the damage can take a lifetime.

It serves as a reminder that everyone is a target.

If you don’t have a large investment account or own assets like real estate, identity thieves will still target you. All of us are easy pickings. Data pirates are not selective. They pilfer from everyone and anything, regardless of age.

DATA PRIVACY DAY DATES