Data Privacy Day: Tips for Protecting Your Personal Info

Every day, more and more people use computers and devices to access information on the internet and through apps. Do you know how your personal data is being collected, used, and shared? Have you put safeguards in place? Data Privacy Day occurs annually on January 28, an international event that raises awareness of the importance of privacy and data protection practices. We’ve gathered some basic tips for protecting your personal info.

START WITH YOUR DEVICES

Banking and credit card accounts. Email. Social media. Shopping apps. We store so much information on devices that can fit in our back pockets and – let’s face it – are easy to misplace. Your smartphone is a hub of daily life and can contain a significant amount of personal data. Be sure to protect it with a password or PIN or go one step further with fingerprint or facial recognition authentication. Always lock your phone or tablet when you’re finished using it, and don’t share passcode information.

PUMP UP YOUR PASSWORDS

Speaking of passwords, how long has it been since you changed yours on key accounts? Are you using the same password for every website or app? Keep your accounts and identity safe by following these tips for passphrases from the National Cyber Security Alliance:

• Choose a sentence or other unique combination that’s at least 12 characters long and easy to remember. Some systems require the use of lowercase or capital letters, numerals, or special characters.
• Create a different password for each separate account.
• Take note of your passwords and store that document in a safe location away from your computer or other devices.

Opinions differ as to how often you should change your passwords, but you should do so after any known security incidents, evidence of malware, suspected unauthorized access, if you’ve logged into an account using a public computer (such as at a library), or if it’s been more than a year since it was last changed.

DON’T CLICK THE LINK

We’ve all received emails from friends that contain only a URL with the subject line: Saw this and thought of you! You trust your friend, so it must be okay, right? Probably not. It’s easy to find yourself scrolling mindlessly through emails and social media feeds. But don’t click that link without pausing and thinking about it first.

Not every spam or phishing email comes from a deposed Nigerian prince asking for help. Many malicious emails look legitimate, as though they have originated from a government agency, retailer, or financial institution. They may include a warning that your account has been locked or you need to act immediately to avoid cancelation of services. If you’re unsure, contact the company through their website or the phone number on your statement or card.

MANAGE YOUR PRIVACY

You can’t always rely on default device settings to sufficiently protect your privacy. Be sure to:

• Learn how – and where – to manage your privacy settings on each of your devices.
• Update devices and apps as needed for the most current security software.
• Think twice before taking that personality quiz on Facebook and monitor which third-party apps have access to your profile.
• Limit how often you use public wi-fi.
• Be careful what you post online so that you don’t mistakenly share personal details.
• Install additional protection for internet activity through your anti-virus provider.

Want to learn more? The Bank of Elk River provides security tips on a variety of topics, including online and mobile banking, ways to guard against unauthorized use of your account, how to protect your bank cards, and much more. You can also read articles regarding identity theft at the Practical Money Skills section of our website.

Contact us for more information about safeguards and security measures. The Bank of Elk River offers a comprehensive selection of personal banking products and services, including checking and savings accounts, loans, credit, and more.