Privacy awareness constitutes an essential skill in our modern world. The Internet has offered countless opportunities, from global communications to endless sources of information. Yet these opportunities come with risks. And especially when it comes to our personal and sensitive information.
What is Privacy Awareness?
Privacy awareness refers to individuals’ awareness of their rights and responsibilities when it comes to personal data. In today’s digital landscape, where data has become a new form of currency, it is essential to understand how, where and why our data is being used. It’s not just about protecting personal data, but understanding the consequences if we don’t.
Why is privacy awareness important?
We live in an age where our online interactions, purchases, preferences and even behaviors are recorded. Furthermore, various entities also store and analyze them. They then use this data for a variety of purposes. From personalizing advertisements to more sinister purposes such as identity theft. The importance of privacy awareness has never been clearer. Without a solid understanding of these issues, we can unknowingly put our personal data at risk.
The 2023 Verizon Data Breach Report shows that 74% of all data breaches have a human element as the cause. This includes social engineering, error and abuse.
How can you protect your privacy?
Strong passwords
A strong password serves as the first line of defense against unwanted access to online accounts. It is essential to have a unique password for each service and change it regularly. Use combinations of letters, numbers and special characters and consider a password manager. Read our article on secure password use for more tips.
Surf the Web Safely
Every time you go online, you leave a trail of digital footprints. There are several ways in which you can promote safe online practices. Read our related article for more tips on how to accomplish this.
Social media awareness
While social media allows us to connect and share, it can also unintentionally reveal private information. It is crucial to regularly check privacy settings and understand what information can be made public. The impact of social media on cybersecurity is enormous.
Businesses and Privacy Awareness
Businesses have a duty, not only because of legal regulations but also because of ethical responsibilities, to protect personal data. With the implementation of the AVG (General Data Protection Regulation), companies now need to be more transparent about how they collect and use data. These measures emphasize the importance of privacy awareness at all levels of an organization.
Employees of an organization sometimes underestimate this importance. The impact of a successful phishing attack are incalculable for many companies. The average cost of a successful data breach is $4.3 million. In the United States alone, this is as high as $9.44 million.
Training and education
An informed employee is a company’s first line of defense against many of the threats that compromise data privacy. Privacy awareness training and awareness workshops ensure that employees are aware of the latest threats. Whether it’s recognizing phishing attempts, understanding the importance of regular software updates, or learning about data storage protocols. A trained team is essential to ensuring a company’s digital security. Emploware can support you in this regard with our privacy awareness training.