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Privacy is a big issue these days and unless you've not been taking much notice of the news, you'll be aware that many governments and regulators have started stamping down on how your data is collected, stored and used.
There have been notable examples with massive fines for companies such as Facebook. Even though GDPR regulations having come into force as a result of push back from governments and regulators in Europe, and scrutiny of data privacy seems high up on the agenda for congress in the US, you still need to keep your data safe as these actions may not cover you.
You may also have failed to notice how much of your information is potentially being collected and shared, particularly where larger companies have been increasingly hoovering up more and more little companies. This means that, as a minimum your data may be being shared within the company and its subsidiaries and that can be very far reaching and within apparently unrelated industries.
The The Urinator is a genetic screening device for testing to prevent your urine sample being used for genetic testing. This is a clever take on how companies increasingly seem to want to gather your personal information.
Unfortunately, with social media now being such an integral part of everyday life for most, some people seem to have forgotten to keep their personal data safe. In short, it's not a good idea to share as much about your life as you can with strangers.
Well, it may seem harmless, but too much information shared without thought to strangers can easily lead to identity theft where criminals build up a profile of you online, using snippets of information you've unknowingly left. These include your date of birth being given away by you sharing your birthday pictures on social media, for instance. Check out this 30 second video from the UK that shows how easily someone can build a profile of you online in order to get your personal data.
Criminals can quickly supplement this with your gender, your mother's maiden name if you have her linked to you, your address and email address, and you can see how they start to put together a profile.
What many fail to realise is that there can be a more insidious threat to your personal data that could have long term damaging effects for you for years to come.
You had better be sure that you keep your medical information private or information taken through one company might well be available to the subsidiaries.
Once your data is out there, it's difficult to control it. For instance, when companies request urine tests for drug testing, can you also be sure that they are not checking and storing your genetic information, too? The issue is that you'd need to be able to make your own synthetic urine or at least buying it (or using someone else's!) if you don't wish to share your own. However, luckily, there are companies that have identified this and actually produce synthetic urine delivery kits to keep your genetic information safe.
Odd statement, yes? But wait, voice recognition for bank IDs is becoming increasingly common. Even if you don't use voice ID at present, you may be forced to use this in the future, and according to some sources , there is software that can accurately reproduce your voice based upon snippets of your speech that are out there on the web.
Were this to be the case, it shows the importance of guarding against having your voice freely available on the web.
You should make sure you properly dispose of any banking receipts and private data that you throw in the bin. Once it leaves your house, it is potentially vulnerable to people who can find out quite a lot about you if they look in your rubbish.
Well, no. even as far back as 2006, the BBC reported that Householders are still throwing out too many documents that help criminals steal their identity. In fact, during the fraud prevention week that year, police and other organisations organised a ,bin-raiding test, in London, UK, which found that "nearly half of the 120 tested homes had thrown away enough information for their identity to be stolen".
Winding forwards to the present date, the issue of privacy and identity theft using information cast away carelessly in bins has become even more serious. Even partial information in a bin could now be the starting point for criminals to build up a picture of you that they supplement online with your social media profiles. Identity theft is a big issue and is difficult to unwind, so help to make it more difficult to find information on you and you can alleviate some of the dangers.
Well, for starters, be aware of what you're sharing and with whom. Start asking why people are wanting the information they want. Be careful who can take your information and what they are using it for. By far the most important step you can take is to start removing your private digital footprint.
This list is by no means exhaustive in terms of protecting your privacy, and we're happy to hear from you with other suggestions. However, below is a good start to redressing the privacy balance in your life:
If you're sharing too much online, or throwing details in the bin that you shouldn't, then stop worrying about it and instead, do something moving forwards.
Protect yourself and start to get your private life, well, private again...
