MCC Daily Tribune

Data Privacy Day

As the line between our offline and online lives continues to blur, Data Privacy Day on January 28 is the little nudge we need at the beginning of each new year to make safeguarding our personal information a priority. Although we live in an increasingly digital world, most of us give little thought to data privacy until after our personal data has been compromised. Our increased reliance on digital technologies to manage every facet of life necessitates the need to rethink what we share about ourselves, when and where we share it, and who we are sharing it with. Data Privacy Day is part of the global online safety, security, and privacy campaign called ‘STOP. THINK. CONNECT.’, — an initiative of the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA).

HOW TO CELEBRATE DATA PRIVACY DAY

Commit to protecting the privacy of your data

First and foremost, if you are not already diligently safeguarding your personal information, your mission, today, should you decide to accept it — and you should, is to begin taking data privacy seriously. Make the commitment today to learn one new thing each day about data privacy and then take the steps necessary to ensure the privacy of your personal information.
Learn about the “Internet of Things”

Take time today to research how all of the digital devices connected to your personal “Internet of Things'' interconnect with each other and with the vast digital universe. This includes your smartphone, modems, TVs, cars, refrigerators, home heating and air conditioning systems, smoke alarms, baby monitors, and home alarm systems... You get the idea. All of these digital devices make life easier to synchronize on your personal ‘internet of me.’ Take the necessary steps today to prevent the personal data necessary to synchronize all of these devices from being shared with those who may want your data, but who do not need your data.
Share your expertise with “seasoned” citizens

If you are digitally-savvy and enjoy teaching others, please volunteer to teach a class or give a seminar demonstrating data privacy specifically for older adults. Senior citizens learn technology best if they are shown how, not told how. A surprising number of ‘baby boomers’, those born between 1946 and 1964, and most of the earlier WWII generation had little or no exposure to computers before retiring. Seniors are a prime target of data thieves because of their lack of basic knowledge of data privacy best practices. Sharing your expertise with these grateful citizens will help prevent this vulnerable community from becoming victims of cyber-criminals.

FIVE WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR DATA PRIVACY

Tend to your operating systems and software

Make sure your computer and mobile devices are running the latest version of operating systems and software.
Update your privacy preferences

Regularly review and update your web browser’s privacy preferences, delete any cookies, and clear the cache.
Reset your home network router

Routers that enable wireless devices to connect to your home internet service are vulnerable to hacking, too — if you rent a router from your internet provider, call them to see if you are eligible for a new one or for help to update your current router’s settings.
Update account passwords

Create different passwords for each of your online accounts — if you have a lot of accounts and find it challenging to keep track of all those different passwords, consider subscribing to a password generator tool that generates random passwords for each one of your accounts but requires you to only remember ONE.
Shred the evidence

Shred hard (paper) copies of invoices, financial records, tax documents, legal papers, magazine labels, envelopes, purchase receipts — any paper that has any information about you, because not all data thieves work on the internet.

WHY DATA PRIVACY DAY IS IMPORTANT

It reminds us to be vigilant

Your complacency is a data hacker’s best friend. We repeat: Your complacency is a data hacker’s best friend.
Prevents the possibility of identity theft

Perhaps the most devastating result of being complacent about safeguarding your personal data is identity theft. By the time you suspect someone else has assumed your identity, they have probably already done a great deal of damage to your name and ruined your credit. Identity thieves are hard to catch and leave a devastating mess behind that will be your responsibility, at your expense to repair. And it can take a lifetime to repair the damage.
It reminds us we are all prime targets

Even if you do not own assets like real estate or have a big investment account, you are still a prime target for identity thieves. We are all prime targets. Data pirates do not discriminate. They steal from everyone and anyone, young or old.

Sarah Benedict
MCC Wellness Council
01/28/2022