We divulge
a lot of personal information online. If not publicly and intentionally via
social media and cell apps, we do so inadvertently through online shopping and
banking, emailing, and even just by browsing through the latest cute videos or pictures. And we browse on more than our computers. Nowadays we can disseminate all our personal
information instantly from our phones and tablets. If you’re not careful, the results can be devastating.
In 2010, 8.6 million households in the U.S. had at least one member age 12 or
older who experienced one or more types of identity theft, according to the
Bureau of Justice Statistics. In October
2012, in South Carolina alone, 3.6 million social security numbers were
hacked. And in recent years we’ve heard too many tragic
stories of school-aged children taking their own lives because of cyberbullying
that took place online and with cell phones.
To encourage
people to take responsibility for protecting their own privacy and data online,
the National Cyber Security Alliance and the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security’s Stop.Think.Connect. campaign started Data Privacy Day in 2008, which
is observed in the U.S and Canada.
January 28, Data Privacy Day, commemorates the 1981 signing of
Convention 108 – the first legally binding international treaty dealing with
privacy and data protection.
The National Crime Prevention Council is a national partner of the Stop.Think.Connect. campaign, which reminds Americans that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. The national public awareness campaign is aimed at increasing the understanding of cyber threats and empowering the American public to be safer and more secure online. The NCPC recommends individuals review its Mind What You Do Online booklet from its website, review privacy settings for your computer, cell, and tablet applications, and check out the Stop.Think.Connect. Quick Tips page for incident response and reporting tips.
A few basic tips include
- Keep security software current: Having the latest security software, web browser, and operating system are the best defenses against viruses, malware, and other online threats.
- Unique account, unique password: Separate passwords for every account helps to thwart cybercriminals.
- Protect your money: When banking and shopping, ensure the site is security enabled. Look for web addresses with “https://” or “shttp://”, which means the site takes extra measures to help secure your information.
- Back it up: Protect your valuable work, music, photos, and other digital information by making an electronic copy and storing it safely.
- Post only about others as you have them post about you: Post messages that do not include threats; insults; offensive, name-calling; teasing; or language that excludes individuals or groups.
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