National Data Privacy Day is January 28th, and it’s the perfect time to take extra precautions to protect your personal information (PII). We all exchange large amounts of information when we use the Internet. Our devices communicate with us—and with each other—for easy shopping, banking, travel arrangements, and keeping in touch with friends. The BBB reminds consumers to protect data from fraud, scams and identity theft.
“A lot of information is already circulating on the Internet through various devices,” said Mechele Agbayani Mills, President and CEO of BBB Central East Texas. and identity theft.
The Better Business Bureau and the National Cybersecurity Alliance offer the following tips to help protect the privacy of important information:
Share with care. What you post can last a lifetime, so think about who will see your posts and photos, how they will be received, and what information they will reveal about you.
Have your online presence. Adjust the privacy and security settings of web services and devices to the level of communication that suits you. Remember that you can limit how and with whom you share information.
Value your personal information. Think of your personal information like money: value and protect it. Be careful what sites you visit and make sure you are on a legitimate site before entering personal information. Be especially wary of messages that urge you to act immediately, offer something that sounds too good to be true, or ask for personal information.
Make your passwords strong and secure. Use long passwords with a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols – the longer the better – up to sixteen characters for email accounts and financial accounts. Don’t use the same password. Keep a paper list of your passwords in a safe place, not on or near your computer. Consider using a password store app.
Block your login. Use the strongest authentication tools available for your online accounts. Your usernames and passwords are no longer enough; consider multi-factor authentication for key accounts such as email, banking, and social media, especially for access on mobile devices.
Don’t follow unfamiliar links. At home or at work, do not click on links from unfamiliar sources or unexpected correspondence. One false click can infect an entire computer… or an entire business.
Pay attention to devices connected to the Internet. Smart thermostats, voice control systems, cars and even refrigerators are just the beginning of a growing list of devices that monitor our homes and track our location. Read the privacy policy and find out what data is collected and how it will be used.
For more information:
See the BBB cybersecurity resource page. Check out the National Cybersecurity Alliance’s privacy tips, including specific information for teens, parents, seniors, mobile device users, and more. Companies can learn more about BBB’s tips for improving cybersecurity.
The BBB is a business-supported non-profit organization that sets and maintains high standards of fair and honest business conduct. Most BBB services are free to consumers. Visit bbb.org for more information. BBB offices can be found in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, including BBB Serving Central East Texas, which was founded in 1985 and serves 19 counties.
