It may seem like a Hallmark holiday, but there aren’t any cards for it (if there are please mail me one). It exists to commemorate the 1981 signing of the Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data by the Council of Europe. Accordingly, Europe celebrates this day as Data Protection Day.

Let’s start with some basics… #

• Use secure passwords, and store them securely. Memorize them, keep a list in your wallet, or use a password manager like LastPass, KeePass, or 1Password. Don’t store them in your browser.

• Don’t get caught by phishing scams. Think before you click on hyperlinks and email attachments, especially on a mobile device. Quiz yourself to see if you’re prepared.

• Secure your mobile devices. Limit the information that you send to Apple, Google, and the apps you install. At the least, set a passcode, opt out of ad tracking, and manage which apps have access to your location.

  • Tips for Android Phones

  • Tips for iPhones/iPads

A few more steps that are good to take… #

• Delete your profiles from data broker sites. Your data is valuable to advertisers and criminals.

  • See how much it’s worth (mine is worth $0.76).
  • Watch this short (1:40 mins) video to see how much you may share.

• Delete accounts you no longer use. Seriously, if you haven’t logged into it for over a year, consider whether you still need it. Dormant accounts are a security risk.

• Avoid using public wi-fi and USB charging stations. You don’t know who set up the network or the cables, and your personal data could be stolen from your device.

And to keep protecting your privacy… #

• Don’t use services that abuse your privacy. Spend money on services that protect your privacy, unlike services like Uber, that track you incessantly and seek to upend the relatively anonymous form of travel by taxicab.

• Manage browser cookies, and beware supercookies. Use a Do Not Track setting when available, and clear your browser cookies periodically. Eat baked cookies.

• Consider your posthumous digital privacy. Establish a plan for what will happen with your digital accounts after you die. It should be done in advance, to avoid difficulties for your heirs.

Don’t try to do all of this at once, but try to make sure that you do it occasionally. Add a bunch of things to your to-do list, make recurring calendar events to update passwords, revoke third-party app access, and check your credit report.

The Federal Trade Commission has a ton of information about how to protect yourself. Read up, stay informed, and encourage your friends and family to do the same!

We’ll return to regularly scheduled silliness later this week. Go eat (and delete!) some cookies.