Data Privacy: Take Control of Your Data

In the age of social media, artificial intelligence, and e-commerce, people are feeling an increasing lack of control over their personal data. Websites and apps all collect data about you, some more than others. What do the organizations, companies or governments who gather your data do with it? Some may use it for marketing, others may use it to build a profile on your activities. How comfortable are you in allowing these entities to gather and use this data?

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to limit exposure of your data online, as well as how it is collected, shared and used. Below are some tips to take control of your data while online:

• Manage your privacy settings

  • When you download a new app, open a new online account, or join a new social media platform, you will often be asked for access to your personal information before you can even use it. This data might include your email address, geographic location, device information, contacts, and photos. Carefully review the data your apps and services are requesting access to and ensure you are comfortable with agreeing to their collection practices. If not, look for an alternate service.

• Limit what you share online

  • Social media makes it simple to share information online - it’s their business model. If you are not careful, you may overshare personal information that you may not want exposed to everyone in the world. For example, when you are vacation are you comfortable for strangers to know you are away from your home? Criminals have been known to monitor social media accounts to know when they can break into unoccupied homes. Most social media applications have features which allow you to limit sharing updates and data with only certain people, like friends and family. Take advantage of that feature and make sure you are only sharing your information with the people you want.

• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA)

  • A password alone is not enough to protect your online accounts. Many people tend to use a simple and easy remember password for non-financial accounts. Keep in mind that some of those accounts, like social media, often have a tremendous amount of data about you that a bad actor could use to target you or your family - names, addresses, phone numbers, purchasing habits, relationships, etc.. By enabling multi-factor authentication, you add an extra layer of security to your devices and online identity.

• Regularly review downloaded apps to "keep" or "delete"

  • There is a good chance there are some downloaded apps or online accounts you have not used in a long time or no longer need. Besides taking up valuable storage space on your devices this can also leave them open to being potentially comprised and your data may still be shared with service providers. Periodically assess your apps and accounts and delete those not being used.

Keeping vigilant about what data you share and who you share it with online is a fundamental personal cyber hygiene best practice. By following these tips, you can better control the data about youself that others are able to access. Be smart about your data and stay SpiderSecure!

For more information visit the IS Security website.