Take Control of Your Digital Privacy - 1

We all have private physical spaces where we can relax, enjoy ourselves and be our authentic self. Privacy gives us the space to be ourselves, free from judgement and is the cornerstone of our personal development. People may describe privacy in different ways. As defined by the Cambridge English Dictionary Privacy means “someone’s right to keep their personal matters and relationships secret.”

We use curtain on our windows, close the door when using the bathroom, routinely keep our bedroom doors closed, and have fences and walls around our homes to stay private in our physical spaces. We do every possible thing to protect our privacy in physical space but are often not as concerned about our online privacy.

Many people underestimate the value of privacy in online spaces. If you worry about your privacy in your physical life, staying in control of your privacy online is equally important. Everyone needs their own personal space, even in public. However, not everyone respects other people’s privacy! Respecting someone else’s privacy is like understanding your limits and boundaries. In today’s world, having a strong online presence is essential for businesses and useful for individuals, yet it has dangerous consequences for everyone. Privacy should not be the price we pay for using the internet or doing business online.

What are the potential risks really?

Some common types of risks of privacy breaches are identity theft, financial loss, reputational damage, operational downtime, loss of intellectual property and loss of sensitive data. However, in the worst-case scenario, it can cause serious embarrassment for the victims depending on the type of data involved.

On a personal level, online privacy is protecting yourself from serious exploitation. You may record your most intimate thoughts in a digital notes app, photos and videos in an app on your device, personal feelings in a text message to a friend and there may be emotional email drafts that you never sent. Through our own misconfigurations in privacy settings in these services, devices and software, there is a fair chance that this kind of information can get leaked online. When a privacy breach occurs, the stakes can be very high.

When you are lacking online privacy, it could also mean that others can determine your whereabouts by accessing your location information. By tracking your information and updates frequently, others can learn your lifestyle changes, habits, likes, dislikes, where you live, work, shop, your relationships, and your behavioural pattern. Depending on where you record your health information, intruders can track your blood group, health history and monitor your entire health performance. Armed with this kind of information, malicious parties can easily get to you and can even cause lethal harm to get what they want.

On a business level, more specifically, the risk of unauthorised access to data can pose a huge threat in doing business in the digital realm. However, for businesses the impact of privacy is twofold. Businesses can gain a competitive advantage by tackling privacy issues proactively. The added value of privacy is essential no matter where your brand is placed in the digital economy. Companies can benefit by integrating privacy and security features in their business strategy. On the other hand, businesses also have a responsibility to safeguard employee records, customer details, payment details, and client information they have on hand. It is their responsibility to prevent that data from being misused by third parties for fraudulent activities. Leaking such data can cause serious damage to a business’ reputation and may trigger lawsuits and fines which can heavily impact their brand image.

Should you be really worried about the information you want to be private?

Even though you may not know, there are many interested parties out there who want to exploit you and gain access to your private information. In security, we call them threat actors. Every day, there are a variety of growing threats related to your privacy. The information you give out on social platforms and other online spaces is related to your personal identity and who you are. The way you interact and with whom you interact and what content you create online is all part of your personality. It creates your online profile and leaves a footprint of your activities every time you interact online. Third parties gaining unauthorised access to your personal data can make you a victim of government profiling, intense marketing campaigns, stalking, blackmail, and other cybercrimes such as ransomware and phishing attacks.

Not configuring these privacy permissions carefully and allowing apps access to your data is one of the biggest privacy mistakes you could make.

Stay tuned for more updates on how you can stand up for your privacy and begin to take control!