Data Privacy: 15 Ways How to Secure the Digital Sanctity of Personal Information

What is Data Privacy?

Data privacy refers to the right of every individual to control and protect their personal information from unauthorized access, use, or leak. This encompasses any data that can be linked to a specific person, such as names, home addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, financial details, credit card details, health records, and even digital footprints like browsing history, login details and location data of the individual.

Securing the digital sanctity of personal information is a critical aspect of data privacy. With the increase in cybercrime; the increasing volume of data breaches and cyber threats, it’s essential for individuals and organizations to take proactive steps to secure personal information.

15 Practical Measures to enhance Data Privacy

Here are some practical measures to enhance data privacy and safeguard personal data:

1. Employ the Use of Strong and Unique Passwords

Employ strong passwords for all your online accounts, and avoid using the same password across multiple platforms. Always utilize a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters to create complex passwords that are difficult for hackers to crack. As you combine uppercase, lowercase, numbers and special characters, ensure that the password is lengthened.

2. Learn to Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Making use of the Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is a unique was of securing you’re the personal information of your account. This is the traditional password-based authentication by requiring users to provide a second form of verification beyond their password. This verification include; SMS or Email Verification, Time-Based One-Time Password (TOTP), Hardware Tokens, Biometric Authentication, etc. Whenever possible, enable 2FA for your accounts. This extra layer of security requires you to provide a second form of authentication, such as a one-time code sent to your mobile device, after entering your password.

3. Keeping your Software Up to date helps in Data Privacy

Ensure regular updating of your operating system, web browsers, and applications. Never allow your software to be out-of-date. Software updates reduces the risk of exploitation by cyber attackers.

4. Take precaution on the use of Public Wi-Fi

Avoid accessing sensitive information or logging into important accounts while connected to public Wi-Fi networks. Public Wi-Fi is often unsecured, making it easier for hackers to intercept data.

5. Data Encryption helps Data Privacy

Make use encryption tools to secure your data, both at rest and in transit. The Encryption tools converts data into unreadable code, ensuring that even if unauthorized individuals access it, they cannot decode the information without the encryption key. This helps to secure your information.

6. Back Up Data on Regular Basis

Backing up of your data on regular basis is crucial. Data should be backed up in an external hard drive or secure cloud storage. In the event of a data loss, having backups ensures you can recover your important files.

7. Always Be Cautious with Email and Messages

Learn to take care of unknown emails and messages from unknown sender. Be cautious of phishing emails and messages that try to trick you into revealing personal information or clicking on malicious links. Avoid opening attachments or clicking on links from unknown senders as this is always a trick that is being used.

8. Make it an habit to Review App Permissions

When installing new applications on your devices, read understand and review the permissions requested by the app. Only grant necessary permissions, as some apps may seek access to more data than required. We discovered that most of the people installing apps, doesn’t even review the app permissions.

9. Always Limit Personal Information Sharing

In a world where the online space isn’t safe, be cautious about sharing personal information on social media and other online platforms. The less personal information publicly available, the harder it is for cybercriminals to exploit it since cyber criminal make use of the information provided.

10. Secure Physical Devices

Protect your physical devices with passcodes or biometric authentication. Don’t share your passcodes with people as this can make you lost your vital information. Saving vital information like credit card details, email details in your mobile devices isn’t ideal. Also, avoid leaving devices unattended in public places.

11. Make Use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

Whenever you are accessing the internet from public places or untrusted networks, use a reputable VPN to encrypt your internet connection and protect your data from potential eavesdropping.

12. Understand Privacy Policies

Familiarize yourself with the privacy policies of websites and services you use. Ensure you understand how your data is collected, stored, and shared. Most internet users don’t go through the privacy policies of a web site the visit.

13. Learn to be cynical on Personal Information Requests

A lot of people are victims of personal information requests; some had lost lots of money. Be cautious when providing personal information over the phone or to unknown callers. Verify the legitimacy of the request before sharing any sensitive details.

14. Learn a Secure way of Disposal of Data:

Whenever you are disposing your old devices, ensure you wipe them clean of all personal information before recycling or donating. You can make a factory resetting to be on the safe side.

15. Make it a duty to Educate Yourself and Others:

Ignorance is one of the key reasons why people are victims today. Remain informed about the latest data privacy best practices and educate your friends and family on how to protect their personal information. Creating a privacy-conscious culture benefits everyone.

Conclusion

Data privacy is a fundamental human right in the digital era, and it requires collective efforts from individuals, businesses, governments, and technology providers to uphold and protect it. By understanding and following these guidelines and staying vigilant, individuals and organizations can significantly enhance data privacy and protect the digital sanctity of personal information. Remember data privacy is a collective responsibility, and everyone plays a role in maintaining a secure digital ecosystem. Emphasizing the importance of data privacy not only safeguards individuals from potential harm but also fosters a culture of trust and responsibility in the digital realm.