Monday, Jan. 28, is National Data Privacy Day. Due to the ever-changing nature of technology, it can be easy to fall short in keeping up with data privacy. Here are a few tips that can help protect your personal information online:
• Build strong passwords: Try to use a sentence or phrase that you will remember. Then think of ways you can spell some of the words differently with symbols and numbers, such as replacing an ‘s’ with a ‘$.’
• Lock your devices: When stepping away from your computer or laptop, make sure to lock it, even if you are coming right back. Phones or mobile devices may offer passcodes, Touch ID or Face ID to help ensure that only you can access your device and corresponding information.
• Know your settings and passwords: Periodically check your account setting and activity. Are you still using a default password? Update it, using the guidelines mentioned above. Are your social media profiles set to public? Look into how much of your information is being shared publicly and adjust accordingly.
• Report security incidents: If you believe something has put the university’s confidential data at risk, please contact the Information Security Office.
