Each year, Data Privacy Week raises awareness about cyber threats and highlights best practices individuals and families can use to protect their personal information. From everyday online activities to the digital services we rely on, the data we share plays an increasingly important role in our daily lives. As technology continues to evolve, understanding how personal information is collected and safeguarding it has never been more important.
Understanding data privacy, recognizing the most at-risk data, and staying aware of emerging threats are vital steps for your digital safety.
What Is Data Privacy?
Data privacy is the practice of protecting your personal information by carefully considering confidentiality and access. It involves how personal information is collected, managed, shared, and protected so it’s handled securely and used responsibly.
Why Does Data Privacy Matter?
When personal data is managed responsibly, individuals can feel confident that their private activities and sensitive information are protected.
It also helps maintain trust in the organizations and services people rely on. Data breaches can damage public confidence, resulting in financial losses and potentially legal consequences when privacy requirements are not met.
Common Types of Personal Data
Not all personal data carries the same level of risk. Some types of information are more sensitive than others and can cause serious harm if exposed, misused, or stolen. Understanding what kinds of data you share helps you better protect yourself, both online and offline.
Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
PII is any information that identifies you. It’s a common target for scammers and cybercriminals. PII includes:
- Full name
- Birth date
- Home address
- Email and phone numbers
- Financial information
- Medical or insurance information
- Social Security number or government-issued ID
Exposure of PII can result in fraud, identity theft, and unauthorized access to accounts.
Biometric Data
Biometric data includes unique physical or behavioral traits used to verify your identity. Examples include:
- Facial recognition data
- Fingerprints
- Retina or iris scans
- Voice recordings
Once compromised, biometric data can be difficult or impossible to replace. Ensure that your data is encrypted both during storage and transmission. It’s also important to regularly update your devices and software to protect against new security risks. Review the apps and services that have access to your biometric data and revoke permissions if necessary.
Personal Account and Service Data
This is information you give when signing up for services, apps, or subscriptions. Examples include:
- Account numbers
- Usernames and passwords
- Security questions and answers
- Usage or location data collected by apps and devices
Protecting this data helps prevent unauthorized access to personal accounts and services.
An Evolving Threat Landscape
As cyber threats evolve, they become harder to detect and more damaging. Common risks include:
- Advanced, long-term attacks that quietly steal data, maintain hidden access to systems, or allow attackers to control compromised devices remotely.
- Advanced phishing scams that use realistic emails, text messages, images, or automated chatbots to trick individuals into sharing personal information.
- AI-driven attacks targeting personal devices and smart home technology.
- Deepfakes, including manipulated audio, video, or voice recordings designed to appear authentic.
- Ransomware attacks that encrypt data and demand payment to restore access.
Tools and Resources to Protect Your Data
Simple tools can help protect personal information and reduce data exposure. Using even a few of these tools makes a meaningful difference.
- Breach notification services let you know if your information was found in a data leak and guide you on what to do next, such as monitoring your accounts or changing passwords.
- Disk encryption protects data on computers or mobile devices if they are lost or stolen.
- Password managers help you create and keep strong, hard-to-guess passwords for every account, all in one safe place.
Many sites collect and sell personal information, making it easy for others to find your details online. Removing your information from these sites can help reduce your digital footprint.
Free, do-it-yourself steps include:
- Removing personal and sensitive information from social media profiles.
- Searching for your name and state using a search engine.
- Adjusting opt-out or privacy pages on websites and applications.
Although this process takes time, it makes it harder for others to access your personal information.
A Shared Responsibility
Data privacy is a personal responsibility. During Data Privacy Week—and all year—staying informed and using smart data habits is key to protecting yourself and maintaining trust in our digital systems.