Data Privacy Awareness

In the age of social media and e-commerce, individuals are feeling an increasing lack of control over their personal data. However, there are steps you can take to learn about the types of data you’re generating online, and how it is collected, shared and used. Follow these basic data privacy tips to help you better manage your personal information and make informed decisions about who receives your data.

  • Data Privacy Tips

    Take Control of Your Data

    • Manage your privacy settings.
    • Limit what you share online.
    • Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA).
    • Regularly review downloaded apps to "keep" or "delete".
  • Manage

    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 geographic location, contacts, and photos.

    Below are some privacy settings you can manage.

    • Who can see your posts?
      • Social media platforms may allow you to change who can view your posts such as only those following you or anyone in the public.
    • Location sharing
      • Devices and online account settings may allow the user to hide their location from being shared.
    • Profile invisibility
      • Some online platforms allow your profile to be hidden from everyone except yourself.
    • App permissions
      • Control what access an app has to your device’s data and features.
  • Limit

    Limit what you share online.

    With apps and social media it can be easy to share information. If you are not careful you may overshare personal information.

    Below are some ways to limit what you share online.

    • Limit online account creations
      • Accounts not being used may be susceptible to being compromised. Keep track of what accounts are currently being used and close accounts not being used.
    • Think twice before you post
      • Consider if the content may do harm to others or something that you may regret later on. 
    • Fill only the require fields
      • Companies and online platforms want your data but you can still decide what you choose to share.
    • Review data sharing settings
      • Allow you to control how you share data with other services such as platforms requesting to do analytics with your information.
  • Enable

    Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA).

    A password alone is not enough to protect your online accounts.
    By enabling multi-factor authentication, you add an extra layer of security to your devices and online identity.

    Below is a link to get more information on DUO, UR’s implemented multi-factor authentication for UR applications and online accounts.

  • Review

    Regularly review downloaded apps and online accounts 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.

    Below are some ways to review your downloaded apps and online accounts to "keep" or "delete".

    • Access your account settings
      • Apps can be checked for data usage and time spent using them.
    • Find the security/privacy section
      • Review the security and privacy settings of an app can access.
    • Review connected apps
      • Apps may be connected to other devices and online accounts such as a personal email account.
    • Manage personal information
      • Sensitive information can make you vulnerable to being compromised such as a phishing attack. Safeguard online information you may not want used against you.

Please view below video showing how taking control of your data privacy can affect your Facebook experience.

Data Privacy Week is January 27-31st. Visit the Univeristy of Richmond's Data Privacy Week site to be #PrivacyAware