Annual Data Privacy Day supports privacy-aware culture

Data Privacy Day, observed annually on Jan. 28, recognizes the signing of Convention 108, the first legally binding international treaty about privacy and data protection. In the U.S., Data Privacy Day is led by the National Cyber Security Alliance.

As Hawai?i’s Technology Leader and official Data Privacy Day Champion, Hawaiian Telcom aims to create a privacy-aware culture here in Hawai‘i by encouraging everyone to protect their personal information. Let me explain how we can all help accomplish this.

“When in doubt, don’t go out” is a saying we often hear at the beach. We can apply this same rule of thumb to our emails -- business and personal -- that are constantly being targeted with phishing campaigns designed to trick us into clicking a link or opening an attachment. Much like those beach warnings, think before you click that link.

Privacy awareness also needs to extend to online shopping, especially if you’re using a mobile device. Whether at the beach or on your couch, make sure you are securely connected to a trusted site. Conduct research on new websites you want to use and read reviews to verify that website is legitimate. Think about how you came upon that website -- was it from a pop-up or a social media advertisement that you didn’t ask to see, or did you find it on your own? How polished and up-to-date is the site? A poorly managed website is no different than a poorly managed business. You should think twice about what information you provide in these instances.

Finally, just like shopping, great care needs to be taken with your social media footprint. What is a social media footprint? This is the data you generate when using Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Pinterest and other social networking websites. While you may be super excited to share your trip to Iceland with your friends, if you post in real time, you may be letting the world know you are not home and cannot return very quickly. Check your privacy settings to ensure your posts are only shared with the trusted individuals you know (not “Public”), but also consider waiting to post to social media until after you return home.

While Data Privacy Day is observed every year on Jan. 28, let’s recognize it every day and embrace a privacy-aware culture. If you wouldn’t share something with a stranger on the street, don’t share it online. Take precautions to safeguard your data because nefarious characters are out there who will try to steal it and use it to their advantage. Don’t make it easy for them. Be privacy aware.

Evan Horton is a managed security services engineer at Hawaiian Telcom. Reach him at Evan.horton@hawaiiantel.com.

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