Sharing More Than You Should

This Saturday I’m focusing my #100words on Data Privacy – 28 January is Data Privacy Day. Are you aware of the importance of your privacy online? Are you sharing more than you should?

Could You Be Sharing More Than You Should

He was an army officer. He had some great pictures on Instagram of himself with his family and on duty in his smart uniform. He slid into her DMs telling her how beautiful she was. He was a widower. Soon they were talking for hours. Next thing, he was on his way to see her. But he was stuck at the airport and his credit card wasn’t working. She offered hers – all details too. That was the last she heard of him. Now she has reminders of him in the credit card debt he piled up on her card. (100 words)

• Personal info is like money: Value it. Protect it. Personal information, such as your purchase history, IP address, or location, has tremendous value to businesses – just like money. Make informed decisions about whether or not to share your data with certain businesses by considering the amount of personal information they are asking for, and weighing it against the benefits you may receive in return.
• Keep tabs on your apps. Many apps ask for access to personal information, such as your geographic location, contacts list and photo album, before you can use their services. Be thoughtful about who gets that information, and wary of apps that require access to information that is not required or relevant for the services they are offering. Delete unused apps on your internet-connect devices and keep others secure by performing updates. 
• Manage your privacy settings. Check the privacy and security settings on web services and apps and set them to your comfort level for information sharing. Each device, application or browser you use will have different features to limit how and with whom you share information. Get started with NCSA’s Manage Your Privacy Settings page:https://staysafeonline.org/stay-safe-online/managing-your-privacy/manage-privacy-settings/

I’ve re-started the 100WordsOnSaturday here. The feature will be around social causes/ special days/special causes.

In case you missed the previous four posts, here they are:

1. Introvert Power
2. Dry January
3. Taken
4. Racism comes in many colours

If you’d like to join me, please leave a comment with your link on my post/s. For the month of February, since I’m following the #Write28Days Challenge prompts, I may not be writing on themes for special days or social causes.