What is Data Privacy Day and how can you protect your data online?

On the 28th of January 2022, it’s Data Privacy Day, or Data Protection Day as it’s also known. The day is marked to raise awareness and improve knowledge on how to stay safe online, so we’ve prepared a few top tips for you ahead of time so you can keep your data secure.

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WorldRemit Content Team

3 mins readUpdated
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What is Data Privacy Day?

Data Privacy Day is an international event every year on the 28th of January. It is marked in the US, Canada and 47 European countries including the UK.

It began as an educational initiative for businesses, focusing on the importance of protecting private, personal information online, especially on social networks. Over the past many years, the focus has expanded to include other online services and also has become more inclusive of consumers.

Its purpose is to raise awareness of online data threats and risks, to share advice and best practices for protecting data and privacy online.

Why is it important to keep your data protected?

As much as we might wish otherwise, it’s a sad truth that there are people online who are looking to take advantage of you and your data. To keep yourself safe, it's important to be aware of both the types of sensitive data that can be abused and the different types of scams to be wary of.

Data to keep safe

  • Full names and maiden names

  • Personal ID numbers

  • Bank information

  • Credit or debit card numbers

  • Full address and postcode/ZIP code

  • Phone numbers

  • Vehicle ID numbers

Types of scams that abuse your stolen data

  • Fraudulent credit card charges

  • Compromised bank accounts

  • Hacked email accounts

  • Social media account takeovers

  • Unauthorised applications for loans or lines of credit

  • Fraudulent tax return filings

How can I protect my data online?

One of the first steps to protecting your data online is to know exactly what data is being used. Data Privacy Day is marked every year to help both businesses and consumers better understand just how important it is to make informed decisions about who receives personal information, and what might be done with it. This includes understanding what the trade-off might be between the convenience of using an app or service and level of privacy that allows you to do so.

For example, some platforms may ask for access to information such as geographical location or photos even when it’s not strictly necessary for use of the service. Consider whether the benefits of allowing access to your data will outweigh the risks or inconveniences. It’s also a good idea to check privacy and security settings on all apps you download or web services you sign up for, and to change them to suit your needs.

Even once you understand what data may be used and where, it’s best to stay vigilant - here are some of our top tips for continued protection of your data.

1) Avoid clicking on unknown links or attachments

Cybercriminals can attack your devices with malware and viruses through links or attachments. This is known as ‘Phishing’ and involves disguising harmful links or attachments in emails pretending to be from credible sources such as tax services, electric/gas companies or even banks.

Check for spelling errors within the email itself or the address it comes from. If anything doesn’t look right, don’t click. It's often better to manually look up the organisation that is contacting you and log in to your account as usual rather than following a link you’re unsure of.

2) Create strong passwords

When creating passwords, it can be easy to cut corners and use something memorable and simple or just use the same password for everything. This increases the risk of a password breach.

Using a unique password to each account is safest, and a secure password manager tool such as Lastpass for Google Passwords can help you keep track.

Most websites will advise on length or what a strong password should include. Generally, strong passwords include a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters (like: ! $ % @).

3) Be wary of free or ‘open’ Wi-Fi networks

Many free public Wi-Fi networks have far fewer security measures in place compared to a personal home network. This means that others using the same network could potentially access your activity, so be careful with what you use such networks for. Anything that requires you to input personal data such as bank details, like online shopping or money transfers, are safer when done at home on a secure Wi-Fi network.

4) Ensure you have good security and privacy tools running

While it helps to be in the know (by reading guides like this!) you can’t be expected to know everything, especially as online threats continue to become more sophisticated.

Installing good security tools or extensions can help keep you safe and take a lot of the burden off your shoulders. Reputable software such as Norton or Avast can protect your computer and devices from viruses and malware. There are also some browser extensions that add some extra peace of mind when using the internet, such as Lastpass as mentioned above to keep your passwords secure.

The use of tools like VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) can also help you stay anonymous online, and thus keep your data private.

5) Keep all your software and apps up to date

Whether it's your computer or your mobile phone, it’s important to keep your system, software, and applications up to date.

This decreases the likelihood of any potential risks or vulnerabilities enabling hackers or viruses to cause you harm. Regularly check for updates on your devices, and set things to update automatically if possible.

6) Use two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication requires a second step beyond just your login information, such as a code sent to your mobile phones via text or to tap a confirmation button in a mobile app like Google Authenticator.

It might seem inconvenient, but having 2-step authentication enabled on your apps and accounts is much safer than going without. This means if someone does manage to get hold of your basic login details, your username and password will not be enough!

Sending money abroad safely

It might seem like a daunting undertaking, but ensuring your data stays safe online is essential. We’re also committed to keeping the data you share with us secure. All card payments made through WorldRemit are protected with 3-D Secure technology and all connections made on our website or our app are encrypted.

Read more about our security features here, and rest assured your data is safe with us.

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