Welcome to 2024 and one of our favorite months of the year — January 21-27 is the annual CISA/NCA Data Privacy Week. The National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) expanded Data Privacy Day into Data Privacy Week because your data is that important!

Why is Data Privacy Week so important to us at Cyber Solutions Technologies?

One of our major goals is to raise awareness of the importance of data privacy and security. Data Privacy Week also provides an opportunity for businesses and organizations to assess their data privacy practices and make improvements where necessary.

Your data is valuable. Even if you don’t agree, many organizations and groups would pay top dollar for it and they don’t all have your best interests in mind. Your online activity creates a treasure trove of data. This data ranges from your interests and purchases to your online behaviors, and it is collected by websites, apps, devices, services, and companies all around the globe.

This data can even include information about your physical self, like health data – think about how an app on your phone might count how many steps you take.

A recent McKinsey survey found that 71% of consumers said they would stop doing business with a company if it gave away sensitive data without permission.

How You Can Take Control of What Data You Share in 2024
Here are a few healthy online habits that when done regularly, will keep you smart with your data privacy in 2024.

Know What You Can’t Control.
Understand that there is a tradeoff between convenience and privacy. To use all the features of your devices, apps, and software, you will often have to share more and more data.

Many online services require some of your data to function – a maps app cannot suggest directions if it doesn’t know where you are located (at least while you are using it).

By understanding this balance, you can make better informed data decisions.

Cultivate an Active Privacy Habit.
Apps, websites, devices, and software will often seek out more data than you would think is necessary. Why does a social media app need to know the phone numbers of everyone you know? Here is where you can really take charge of your data.

Many web browsers, computers, and devices will ask you if you want to share certain types of data with a new app or website. Pay attention to these requests and think critically about your answers. Here are common types of data you might be asked for:

• Your location
• Your contacts
• Access to your photos and camera
• Data about your behavior and use of a service

Really think about what you want to share. On mobile devices, you can often decide if you want to grant an app access to this data only while using it. You might feel more secure by always limiting how much data you share when asked.

Check Your Privacy Settings Regularly.
Set an appointment every month (or even every two weeks) to check your security or privacy settings on your phone/tablet/laptop.

Even if an app or software program never asks you for data, you should assume it is still collecting it.

Access app and software permissions through your device’s general settings. Remember, apps will often ask for you to give them access permissions at all times, but you usually only need to give them permissions for while you are using the app. Here are some default settings you should usually turn off, unless you need it for the app to function:

• Camera – off
• Microphone – off
• Location – off
• Sync contacts – off

The National Cybersecurity Alliance created a great resource that you should bookmark: Manage Your Privacy Settings. It’s all the links to privacy settings collected in one place — and they’ll add to it if you find one unlisted.

Delete Apps Ruthlessly.
Many apps will collect and share your device-use data even when you don’t use them. You’re basically giving away your data, and you don’t even use or like the app!

If you haven’t used the app in months, delete it from your device. Don’t be afraid to be cutthroat; you can always download the app again.

Follow us on LinkedIn for more great tips during Data Privacy Week. It’s a great time to check all your personal devices, see what information you’re sharing (purposely or not!) and making a clean sweep to reset to your preferences across the board.

It can be the first thing you check off your resolution list for 2024!