January 28th is Data Privacy Day. This is a great time to conduct a check of your personal and work accounts, to ensure YOUR data is private and secure. Let’s look at how to keep your social media, passwords, and email protected.
Do you have a social media account? Most likely, the answer is yes! According to the Pew Research Center, 72% of US adults have at least one social media account. The next time you log into your Facebook, Twitter, or Snapchat account, take a moment to check your privacy settings. Who can view your account and the information you post?
You also want to check the privacy settings on your devices as well. This includes your smart devices, like Amazon and Google, and your gaming consoles. What information are you sharing?
Check out StaySafeOnline.org to find out more information on updating your privacy settings on a variety of sites, apps, and devices.
Following a few simple password protection tips can help keep you and your data from being compromised.
The first tip is to not use the same password for all of your accounts. You want to use unique passwords for each account you have. Yes, this can be a pain, but this keeps you and your data protected.
When creating a password, you want to use something you will remember but at the same time, something others won’t figure out. One way to create a password is one that includes a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters as well as numbers. Another way is to create a phrase of short words or even a sentence that you would remember.
Two-factor authentication is also a good way to protect your data. When checking your privacy settings, see if two-factor authentication is available. When two-factor authentication is enabled, you have to confirm your identity in two ways. One example of this is submitting a password and a verification code that is sent via text message or email.
Email accounts can quickly become filled with work requests, shopping discounts, bill payment reminders, messages from family, and spam. Keeping all of these emails in one account can put you at risk. First, use your work email account for only work related communication. Using your work address to sign up for a coupon website could put you and your company at risk.
When it comes to personal email accounts, consider having more than one. Use one for family and school communication and a second for your favorite stores and brands.
Don’t let January 28th be the only time you think about data privacy. Continue to educate yourself and keep you and your data private and secure!
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