Latest news with #DataPrivacyWeek
Associated Press
05-02-2025
- Associated Press
Turning Privacy Concerns Into Action
The theme of this year's Data Privacy Week was: Take Control of Your Data. At Gen, we want to motivate you to do just that. As every aspect of our lives increasingly moves into the digital realm, understanding data privacy is becoming an essential life skill for all of us. Despite being asked to 'accept all cookies' or 'share location' daily, many of us are unsure about exactly what these actions do. Once something is posted online, it can remain there indefinitely, and its impact may resurface in unexpected ways. Taking proactive steps now can prevent future regrets. Push Your Understanding: What Does 'Accepting all Cookies' Really Mean? This action allows a site to track your browsing history, location and other personal data even across other websites. Companies can then use this information to create a profile for you and sell it to advertisers. While in most cases this data is used for legitimate purposes that don't present any risk to you, in the worst-case scenario, this information could also end up in the hands of cybercriminals. Going Deeper: Have you Heard of the Privacy Paradox? There is growing discussion around the Privacy Paradox – the discrepancy between our attitude about online privacy and our actual behavior. This manifests as you or I expressing significant privacy concerns but then taking little action to protect ourselves. Several recent surveys indicate that the vast majority of respondents have significant concerns about their online privacy and security. However, these concerns often fail to translate into meaningful action. As an example, according to a 2023 report from Pew Research, only 49% of U.S. adults report stopping using a digital device, website or app over worries about how their personal information was being used and only 44% chose to use a browser or search engine that didn't track activities. Ultimately, we often prioritize convenience while underestimating the risks, especially when the consequences of privacy breaches feel abstract or distant. These risks, however, are tangible and can have real-world implications. For instance, the financial and emotional toll of a ransomware attack is comparable to that of a burglary. Just as we secure our homes, we should approach our digital safety with the same level of seriousness and diligence. Take Action: Secure Your Data Data Privacy Week is a great time to take steps to secure your digital footprint. Here are two things you can do in just five minutes to take control of your data. At Gen Digital Inc., we're dedicated to privacy protection and the Cyber Safety of our nearly 500 million users every day. Learn more about our dedication to privacy protection here. And for more tips on how to protect yourself online, check out these posts from two of our trusted Cyber Safety brands Avast and Norton.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Identity theft impacts 1 in 5 Americans, BBB has tips for protection
HONOLULU (KHON2) — It is data privacy week, so the local Better Business Bureau is encouraging everyone in the community to take some time this week to protect their theft can have devastating consequences, from criminals opening false credit card accounts to draining your bank account or even selling your personal details online. But how does it happen, and more importantly, what can you do to prevent it? 'Good data privacy is really important because the consequence of poor data privacy is identity theft – which is more common than most people think. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, about 1 in 5 persons (22%) have experienced identity theft in their lifetime,' said Cameron Nakashima with Better Business Bureau. 'With enough personal information, a scammer can pretend to be you and commit crimes. They can make false applications for loans and credit cards, withdraw money from your bank account, or obtain services in your name. They can also sell your information to others on the Internet. Better Business Bureau helps people confidently and conveniently connect research good businesses, avoid scams, or help them recover if things don't go well with a business they worked with. So when we talk about identity theft, we want people to know that a big part of keeping your data safe starts with working with businesses you can trust — that protect your data and only collect and store the minimum amount of information needed.' BBB: Watch out for hidden danger in online pharmacies Hackers can gain unauthorized access to systems storing sensitive information like social security numbers, credit card details, or medical records. Once stolen, this data is often sold on the dark web. BBB has some other ways your data can be stolen: Account takeovers: Using stolen login credentials to access online accounts, then changing the details to lock the legitimate owner out. Phishing: Fraudsters send fake emails, texts, or phone calls pretending to be legitimate organizations to trick you into sharing sensitive information. Examples include fake emails claiming your bank account has been compromised. Fortunately, people can improve their data privacy during Data Privacy Week. 'Monitor your accounts,' Nakashima said. 'Look for unexplained withdrawals, charges, and accounts. Check your credit reports regularly for unauthorized inquiries and accounts. Be selective with the information you share and who you share it with. Decide what information you are comfortable with a business or website having and what information you are not comfortable with. For example, your social security number, driver's license number, and home address are all sensitive pieces of information that not every business you shop at needs to know. Only share information with businesses that are committed to keeping your data safe – businesses you know, trust, and have researched. If you need help, recovering from identity theft, we recommend you go immediately to for assistance.' Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Additional resources for scam recovery are available at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
