Discover Effective Strategies for Protection
Personal data security is becoming increasingly challenging, especially since sharing data online has become the norm. On the internet, traditional personal details such as email addresses, residential addresses, and phone numbers are commonly required. Despite our desires, we cannot avoid providing them online. Moreover, we should consider IP addresses and the devices we log in on, where we also leave a less obvious trace of our presence. All these elements allow for personal identification. Furthermore, technological advancements contribute to the collection of biometric data, such as facial recognition data or fingerprints, making privacy protection a priority.
According to the “Internet Security” research report, each year, 10% of Americans are vulnerable to identity theft. As our lives become more digitized, cybercrime is becoming an increasingly common phenomenon. The most serious data breach incidents include data sales, identity theft, and phishing. Additionally, the EY Future Consumer Index 2023 reveals that 80% of people are concerned about the sale of personal data by companies to third parties, 79% about identity theft, and 78% about unauthorized data exploration.
Under GDPR regulations, simply possessing personal data equates to processing it, which means the regulations apply to virtually every business. Therefore, the most effective form of personal data protection to consider is deletion, although this is not always possible. The only way to stop treating some data as personal data subject to strict control is through anonymization.
Ways to Secure Personal Data
First, use strong passwords that do not contain obvious combinations, such as names or birthdates, and enable two-factor authentication for online accounts. These methods help secure data and require minimal effort. Additionally, perform regular software updates, educate yourself about threats, and check for secure internet connections.
Another effective method is data anonymization. This process involves techniques such as masking, encryption, and hashing. They are recommended because data exposed outside the internal network is vulnerable to misuse by unauthorized persons. To facilitate data anonymization, numerous software programs automate this process with personal data protection in mind.
Anonymization as an Effective Way to Protect Personal Data
Data anonymization of special categories brings several benefits, particularly in the context of awareness of the risks associated with data breaches in enterprises.
- Anonymizing data prevents access by individuals outside the production environment, such as employees of external companies. This is particularly important in the case of outsourcing.
- Anonymization prevents a clear interpretation of stolen data, significantly reducing its value to those who acquire it. Consequently, even in the event of theft, these data do not hold practical value, which facilitates the resolution of legal issues.
- Applying advanced data anonymization techniques can indicate the maturity and professionalism of an enterprise in terms of data protection and compliance with privacy regulations.
- Anonymization eliminates the risk of unusual use of data by third parties who should not have access to it, further enhancing personal data security.
By following these strategies, you can significantly improve your personal data security and protect against various cyber threats. Implementing robust data protection practices not only ensures compliance with regulations but also builds trust with customers and stakeholders.
