During Data Privacy Week, we encourage you to think about all the ways your personal information is collected and used online. All online activity generates a trail of data. Websites, apps, and services track your digital behavior and sometimes collect personal and health data.

In many cases, you can control how you share your data with a few simple steps.

KNOW THE TRADEOFF BETWEEN PRIVACY AND CONVENIENCE

When you download a new app or open a new online account, you are often asked for access to personal information – like your location, contacts, or photos – before you can even use the service. This personal information has tremendous value – and you should think about whether the service you get in return is worth the data you must hand over, even if the service is free.

  • LinkedIn is a valuable networking tool, but making your account totally publicÌýexposes your personal data – and you – to possible data sharingÌýand even unwanted attention, and scammers can use your information to craft social engineering campaigns targeted at your workplace.

ADJUST SETTINGS TO YOUR COMFORT LEVEL

For every app, account, or device, check your privacy and security settings and set them to your comfort level. Generally, it's wise to lean on the side of sharing less data, not more.

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  • to check your privacy settings on social media accounts, online accounts and apps.

PROTECT YOUR DATA

Data privacy and data security go hand-in-hand. Along with managing your data privacy settings, follow some simple cybersecurity tips to keep your data safe:

  • Create long, unique passwords for each account and device. Use a password manager to store each password.

  • Turn on multifactor authentication (MFA) wherever it is offered.

  • Turn on automatic device, software, and browser updates, or install updates as soon as they are available.

  • Learn how to identify phishing messages, which can be sent as emails, texts, or direct messages.

For more information about Data Privacy Week, visit . And for more safe computing tips, visit odu.edu/safecomputing.