Data Privacy Day is celebrated every year on January 28th. It began as the Data Protection Day in Europe, which celebrates the first legally binding international treaty that protects individuals from the automatic processing of personal data. In honor of International Privacy Day, we wanted to take an opportunity to show you how you can take steps to safeguard your personal information. Each time you use a connected device, your sensitive information may be collected without your knowledge. This can include your current location, age, gender, spending habits, or even your hobbies. Simply surfing the internet could potentially allow your personal information to be collected unknowingly. By taking a few simple steps, you can reduce your online risk and protect your privacy.

  • Update your privacy settings on all your apps and devices, especially if it’s a new device or app. 
  • Always use complex passwords for all your online logins. Ideally, each account should have its own unique password.
  • Keep your software up-to-date on all your devices.
  • Avoid taking online quizzes or playing certain games, especially those circulating on social media. Although it can be fun to see which celebrity is your look-a-like, these platforms are often collecting your profile data, even if your profile is set to private.
  • Be cautious about using unsecured or public Wi-Fi networks. If you need to use an unsecured Wi-Fi network, avoid shopping or checking your bank account.
  • If you visit certain sites often, like Google or social media sites, review their privacy policy and see if you can optimize your individual privacy settings. Many sites will allow you to opt-out of data collection with a simple click of a button.
  • Always use virus protection and a firewall on all your computers, phones, and tablets. This simple step can go a long way in protecting against malicious data collection and hackers.

All of these steps can help you safeguard your information, but often the best tool is your own common sense. If something feels off, or seems too good to be true, then take a moment and decide if you’re comfortable moving forward. To learn more ways to protect yourself and your family, visit our Account Security page. We have many resources that can help you increase your online and mobile security.