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World Data Privacy Day

By Shahqil Kshah / January 27, 2023

 Data Privacy Day, is a yearly event that takes place on January 28. Data Privacy Day aims to encourage best practices for privacy and data protection and increase awareness of these issues

The importance of data privacy is rarely first on anyone’s list of daily tasks. When you opened your computer, laptop, or mobile phone this morning to check your email, read the news, check the stock price, and all the other ways we regularly utilize technology to handle our home- and business-related affairs, it probably wasn’t on your mind. The majority of us are guilty of letting our guard down when it comes to protecting our most private information from prying eyes that aren’t visible to us. In reality, a lot of individuals are confused about the distinction between data security and data privacy, which may be the cause of our lax attitude toward data privacy.

Despite being closely related and linked, data privacy and data security are not the same thing. The comparison that best illustrates the differences between the two compares data security to installing bars on your home’s windows to deter burglars. Data privacy is more akin to closing the curtains in your home so that no one can see what you are wearing, who lives with you, what you are having for dinner, or what movie you are watching.

Few of us pay attention to data privacy as end users on the technology spectrum beyond knowing not to share our passwords with anybody. We have faith that the companies offering software and data services would take good care of the personal information they obtain from us in order to use their goods and services. However, with a few notable exceptions, most personal data acquired by businesses nowadays is not treated as private by default.

The unsettling fact is that the majority of those who have access to our personal information do not require it. These online strangers who have permission to access our personal information are precisely the folks we should be blocking from doing so since they have no need for it. Anyone who is “on the grid,” that is, uses any kind of digital device for any purpose, and believes that having spam software and firewalls are keeping their data safe, ought to take note of Data Privacy Day.

Data Privacy Day serves as a reminder to take personal data seriously. It has worth, and since sometimes our lives do rely on it, we should guard it with all of our might.

“However, an underlying issue is that most consumers don’t take the time to read what data these companies are actually collecting. There is a role for all of us to play in the privacy of our own data, but most users aren’t taking the responsibility. Consumers should be educated on and aware of the actual risks of using the latest “on trend” app. Privacy should be presented in a way that is more easily understood by younger generations, otherwise we are missing an opportunity to meaningfully educate a whole population of people. The state of privacy is poor today, but with the right consumer engagement, it could help tip the scales back in favor of consumers.”

–Rick McElroy, Principal Cyber Security Strategist, VMware

History of Data Privacy Day

The Council of Europe voted to establish a Data Protection Day on April 26, 2006, to be observed annually on January 28, the day the Council of Europe’s data protection convention, known as “Convention 108,” was made available for signing. Nowadays, Data Protection Day is observed worldwide and is known as Data Privacy Day outside of Europe.

On this day, governments, legislatures, national data protection agencies, and other stakeholders engage in initiatives to increase public awareness of the rights to privacy and personal data protection. Public awareness efforts, teacher and student education initiatives, open houses at data protection organizations, and conferences may all fall under this category.

How To Celebrate Data Privacy Day

There isn’t really a set manner to observe Data Privacy Day, but it’s crucial that we all take a minute to acknowledge its importance and why privacy is so vital.

Data Privacy Day may be a fantastic chance for businesses to remind staff about the security procedures in place to protect customer information. Hosting a session to discuss some recommended practices for maintaining your personal privacy might also be a fantastic idea. 

Here are some ways you can celebrate Data Privacy Day on an organizational level

Hosting an online event – This might be a fantastic opportunity for you to talk about what privacy means to your company and demonstrate to your stakeholders and consumers that you take privacy very seriously.

Organize a quiz related to data privacy – You want to engage friends or coworkers in enjoyable activities that will also teach them about privacy. Well, a quick quiz is typically a relatively safe bet. As an alternative, you might just send some amusing privacy facts by email or instant message.

Protecting My Own Data

“This Data Privacy Day, follow these best practices to keep your personal data safe online.

  • Tip #1: Be skeptical. If a deal seems too good to be true, it likely is. Don’t give personal data to an unknown company simply because they’re offering a significant discount. These companies may be fraudulent, and use promises of discounts to trick consumers into handing over sensitive information like credit card details.
  • Tip #2: Keep your private information, private. Protect personal and financial information on any online channels such as social media platforms as it is highly desirable to cyber criminals. Protecting personal information is critical to preventing identity theft, as it can be used by unscrupulous individuals to exploit users.
  • Tip #3: If you can connect it, protect it. In the digital age, where everything from thermostats to coffee makers are connected online or controlled through an app, it is important to remember that with that convenience also comes the opportunity for attackers to hijack our sessions. To protect yourself and your personal data, use strong passwords, opt for multi-factor authentication, avoid unprotected WiFi networks and use anti-malware software if possible.
  • Tip #4: Never neglect backups. Always practise the 3-2-1-1-0 rule – there should be at least three copies of important data, on at least two different types of media, with at least one off-site, one offline, with zero unverified backups or backups completed with errors.“

– Beni Sia, Vice President of Southeast Asia and Korea (SEAK) at Veeam Software

Check on your operating systems and software

Verify that the operating system and applications on your computer and mobile devices are the most recent versions available.

Clear your cookies

Without fully understanding what it entails, we have all clicked the “accept cookies” button. Let’s face it, nothing was going to stop you from visiting that January sale with up to 75% off. However, did it ever strike you as odd that, even months later, you were still seeing advertisements for that business? Frequently deleting your browser’s cookies will get rid of certain data that has been stored there, frequently for marketing purposes. But since these files are so readily hacked, cookies can also be a security issue.

Update account passwords

Make sure to use a different password for every one of your online accounts. If you have a lot of accounts and find it difficult to remember them all, you might want to consider using a password generator tool that will generate random passwords for all of your accounts so that you only need to remember ONE.

Understanding your rights

Many of today’s privacy regulations provide people a set of rights to influence how firms utilize their personal information. Numerous laws provide you the right to ask companies to give you a list of all the personal data they hold on you. In certain circumstances, you can even ask them to erase this information. It is important to understand which rights are applicable to you and how you may use them because these rights often differ based on where in the globe you are.

Why Data Privacy Day is Important

“World Data Privacy Day is an excellent opportunity for citizens and organisations to take stock of their data management and security practices – namely, who is trusted to manage that data? Ask yourself key questions like: How is my data stored? Is it secured? Can it be recovered if attacked? Is the data encrypted in transit and at rest, and is your data backup immutable? By asking these questions you will be able to identify where gaps exist and areas that need to be addressed. “

–Brian Spanswick, Global CISO and Head of IT,  Cohesity

  • It urges us to exercise caution.
  • reduces the risk of identity theft
  • Due to this, we are all prime targets.

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