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OHIOPROTECTS

Data Privacy Day

January 28, 2020

Today is Data Privacy Day, when organizations around the world promote data protection and cybersecurity. More than ever, many Ohioans are using devices that keep them constantly connected. At home and at work, you can take steps to help keep your data secure.
To help protect your personal information, consider taking five steps:
 

  1. Review your privacy settings. Take time to locate the privacy setting on all of your accounts, especially your social media accounts, and decide how much you want to share with others. Update the settings as needed to limit or control what others see about you and your family members.
  2. Read privacy policies. Before entering your information to win a prize, receive a discount or get notifications from a company, check its privacy policy. Privacy policies generally explain how your information will be used, including whether it will be sold to third parties or used for marketing purposes.
  3. Update your passwords. To help prevent intruders from accessing your personal information, use long, strong passwords or passphrases, and change them regularly. Use a different password for each program, website or application you use. Consider using a reputable “password manager” to handle some of these functions. Also, disable automatic login functions on websites, and do not allow your browser to “remember” passwords.
  4. Protect your home network. Use tools like firewalls, router and network passwords, encryption and anti-virus programs to protect your home Internet connection and ensure that only you and your family have access.
  5. Be careful when using free public Wi-Fi networks. If you use free public Wi-Fi, assume everyone can see what you are doing. Avoid disclosing personal information, such as logins, passwords or credit card numbers, when using public Wi-Fi. Also, verify the specific network name with the store, coffee shop or other Wi-Fi location before connecting to the network.
For more cybersecurity tips, view the Ohio Attorney General’s CHIPP (Cybersecurity Help, Information, and Protection Program) booklet.