In a day and age where your personal information is under continuous assault by bad guys trying to steal your identity as well as your stuff, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette is using the occasion of tomorrow’s designation at Data Privacy Day to deal out some tips to help your protect the privacy of your personal data.
Tomorrow, January 28, 2017 is officially designated as Data Privacy Day and the Attorney General is sharing a few tips.
Data Privacy Day is an international effort held annually on January 28 to create awareness about the importance of privacy and protecting personal information.
Schuette says, “The more conversation we have around privacy threats, the more educated we can be in preventing criminals from compromising our data.” He adds, “Technology is such an intimate part of our lives that its presence has dangerously lowered our guard. It can be difficult to spot a fraud and takes preparation. Following some basic practices can be easy and can greatly safeguard our personal identities, as well as the identities of those we love.”
Schuette issued a short video with a few tips on how to defend against scams. The tips include:
- Know who you’re dealing with before sharing information – Identity thieves may pose as representatives from banks, businesses, or even government agencies. If in doubt, contact the organization directly.
- Use login approvals or two-step verifications – This is one of the best and easiest ways to protect personal accounts from hacking.
- Take advantage of privacy settings – You don’t have to share everything with everyone. Make sure your data is being used the way you want it to be.
- Use different passwords for different websites.
- Keep software and apps up to date.
- Before sharing a link, always think twice – Once you share something online it is out there. Be cautious when making your own post or sharing someone else’s post. Are you sharing too much personal information? How will what you post be perceived in the future?
- Remember to always be vigilant with all personal information – Especially your credit cards, bank account numbers and social security number.
Schuette says you can find more information and tips about how to safeguard your personal information online, by visiting the Stay Safe Online website.
