Data privacy involves protecting individuals’ personal information and upholding their right to control how their data is collected, processed, stored, and shared. This vital concept faces numerous challenges, including data breaches, identity theft, insufficient consent mechanisms, data profiling, weak security practices such as inadequate encryption, and the misuse of collected data. Additional issues include gaps in regulatory frameworks, inadequate enforcement, social engineering attacks, location tracking, and the integration of emerging technologies like biometrics and artificial intelligence without appropriate safeguards.
User education and data literacy are the keys to protecting yourself. Data Privacy Week (January 27-31, 2025) is a public awareness program created by the National Cybersecurity Alliance to meet this need. This year’s theme is Take Control of Your Data. Your online activity generates a vast amount of data, encompassing everything from your interests and purchases to your online behaviors. This data is collected by websites, apps, devices, services, and companies worldwide. It can even include personal details about your physical self, such as health information. An example would be the app on your phone tracking the number of steps you take each day.
There are 30 minute conversation series with industry leaders called “Talking Data.” Discussions will include: managing your privacy settings, why companies collect your data, privacy and AI, understanding privacy laws, and respecting privacy. There is even an interactive trivia game on January 31st (register).
The website provides direct links to privacy and security settings for a wide range of devices, services, and platforms, categorized by type, such as e-commerce, mobile banking, email, health apps, food delivery, mobile/location services, social networks, streaming platforms, web browsers, music services, online conferencing, online dating, photo/video sharing, rideshare services, travel, search engines, and miscellaneous tools like smart speakers and gaming consoles. You can manage your settings with this list of popular apps.
The National Cybersecurity Alliance is a non-profit organization whose mission is to “advocate for the safe use of all technology and educate everyone on how best to protect ourselves, our families, and our organizations from cybercrime.”
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