By Chetrice Mosley-Romero

January 27, 2021

If it's possible for our privacy to be a cause for celebration, it could be said that Data Privacy Day -- on January 28th -- is a holiday that reminds us just how important it is to respect each other's privacy, safeguard one's data, and enable trust.

Beginning in 2007, Data Privacy Day was created by the Council in Europe. In 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives proclaimed it National Data Privacy Day. Since that time, a variety of consumer, business, and cybersecurity groups and organizations have joined in an international effort to help empower individuals and businesses to engender that respect. At the same time, it reminds us of the importance of our personal information and the easy-to-follow steps we can follow to stay safe online.

A recent article on network security recently highlighted a list of 10 online privacy facts, including some that may surprise you. For example, did you know that 41 percent of children between the ages of 8-17 have public profiles that are open, putting them at risk to predators? Or, that a person's job or career can be compromised by the spread of false or misleading information that is accessed online?

Fortunately, there are resources available to help you. The FTC also offers a series of helpful tips for keeping your personal data protected, such as:

• Locking your financial documents and records in a safe place at home
• Limiting what you carry. When going out, take only your ID, along with the credit or debit cards you need. Leave your Social Security card at home.
• Making sure before you share any personal information at work, a business, your child's school and/or a doctor's office, always be sure to ask why they need it, how they will safeguard it, and discuss with them any consequences of not sharing it with them
• Shredding any important documents (i.e. receipts, credit offers or credit applications, medical/insurance forms, as well as any bank/financial statements or expired credit cards) that you no longer need or use
• Destroying the labels on prescription bottles before you throw them out
• Consider opting out of prescreened credit and insurance offers by mail. You can opt-out for 5 years or permanently by visiting: optoutscreen.com. It is a secure online service operated by the 3 nationwide credit reporting companies.

For more information about how to keep your personal information secure, Hoosiers are invited to visit the Indiana Cybersecurity Hub. Also, you can check out our new blog, follow us on Twitter, or visit our Facebook page for the latest tips and other helpful links and resources.