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Company Overview

USADATA is a market leader in targeting capabilities and data. Through digital marketing, it provides intuitive technology for businesses to enrich customer data and build and connect with their best custom audience. USADATA's innovative data activation platform helps marketers connect with more prospects and execute smarter campaigns for a higher return on investment.

USADATA works predominantly with mid-market companies to help them strategically grow their business. It has over 30,000 users of its technology and works directly with more than 500 companies. USADATA's intuitive technology and simple workflows make it easy for businesses to get started with data-driven marketing. The company offers products that help businesses target their best customers, personalize their messages, and measure their campaigns' success.

USADATA pledges to deliver the highest-quality data, multi-channel and digital marketing knowledge, consultative assistance, and service in every relationship. Customers can rely on USADATA to accurately analyze new audiences and guarantee that their businesses are using the best possible strategies and tactics to realize their full potential. Every step of the way, USADATA is there to carry out plans and accomplish common goals.

It believes that success is a team effort. It works for and in tandem with its clients to ensure their goals are achieved. Through its advanced technology and skills in multi-channel marketing, it uncovers data insights to help clients surpass marketing goals.

Type Of Consumer Data Collected

USADATA collects data across all channels, including web, email, mobile, social media, direct mail, and more. It helps you understand your customers by providing accurate and up-to-date data. The type of consumer data USADATA collects includes:

Demographic Data: This is information such as age, gender, income, education level, etc. It helps businesses better target their marketing efforts.

Psychographic Data: This is information about lifestyle choices and personality traits. It can be used to segment audiences and create more personalized marketing messages.

Behavioral Data: This is information about how consumers interact with your brand. It includes things like purchase history, web browsing behavior, and email engagement.

Location Data: This is information about where consumers are located. It can be used for targeted advertising, local store promotions, and more.

How Is The Data Collected?

USADATA collects data through a variety of methods, including:

Online Surveys: Consumers can opt-in to answer questions in exchange for rewards like coupons, sweepstakes entries, and more.

Purchased Data Lists: USADATA buys data from other companies to supplement its collection efforts.

Data Partnerships: USADATA partners with other companies to collect data. For example, it has a partnership with the National Consumer Panel, which allows it to collect purchase behavior data.

What Is The Data Used For?

The data USADATA collects is used for a variety of purposes, including:

Market research: USADATA uses the data it collects to help companies understand consumer trends and preferences.

Better targeting: USADATA's data helps businesses better target their marketing efforts.

Improved personalization: The data collected by USADATA can be used to create more personalized marketing messages. This leads to improved engagement and conversions.

Increased insights: USADATA's data collection efforts provide businesses with valuable insights into consumer behavior. This helps businesses make better strategic decisions.

Product development: The data can be used to develop new products tailored to meet consumers' needs.

The Rights Given Under CCPA, FCRA, GDPR, And DPA

USADATA is committed to protecting consumers' privacy and giving them control over their data. It provides the following rights to consumers under CCPA, FCRA, GDPR, and DPA:

The right to know what data is being collected about them.

The right to know why the data is being collected.

The right to know who the data is being shared with.

The right to access the data that is being collected about them.

The right to have the data deleted.

The right to opt out of having their data collected.

How To Request Deletion Of Your Data?

If you would like to request the deletion of your data, you can contact USADATA directly. By calling at 800.395.7707 or email at privacy@usadata.com. You can send opt-out requests directly by clicking here or here. You can also send them a mail at their postal address:

USADATA, Inc.

875 3rd Ave, 6th floor

New York, NY 10022

You will need to provide your name, email address, and the reason for your request. USADATA will then review your request and take action accordingly.

GumGum

https://www.gumgum.com/

Company Overview

GumGum is an advertising company with its headquarters located within the city of Santa Monica in California (there’s also a branch office situated in London, United Kingdom). The company implements advertising campaigns for their clients with the goal of increasing the attention capture of prospective and current customers. In addition, they also provide the opportunity for businesses to monetize with them through the promotion of advertisements. On its website, GumGum claims to have partnerships with some of the top global corporations including American Express, Canon, Coca-Cola, Microsoft and Samsung. View the rest of their Partners when you click on the links below.

GumGum’s List of Partners 1 | GumGum’s List of Partners 2

GumGum and Your Personal Information

A new, valuable currency has emerged and corporations are already purchasing it by the truckloads: consumer data. The term Consumer Data refers to information collected on individuals that includes Personal Information along with a list of their online activities. It’s about time that you become more aware of your online Privacy and discover how consumer data is being handled by companies like GumGum. Take a couple of minutes and read the company’s Privacy Policy to find out how. You can access the document by clicking on the link below, which was last amended on December 23, 2019.

GumGum’s Privacy Policy

If the link above doesn’t work, click on the “Privacy Policy” link found on the website’s Footer (the bottom section of the webpage) as shown in the image below.

It is very commendable that GumGum has constructed a well-formulated Privacy Policy written in an easy to understand language. They pretty much have everything laid out within the Policy. They outlined the different types of information collected and the purpose for their collection (section: “TYPES OF DATA WE COLLECT AND HOW WE USE IT”), how they collect the information (section: “HOW WE COLLECT YOUR PERSONAL DATA”) while stating the different types of information they claim not to collect (section: “PERSONAL INFORMATION WE DO NOT COLLECT”). Finally, they declare whom they share information with and the purpose for sharing it (section: “WHO DO WE SHARE YOUR PERSONAL DATA WITH?”).

Whether or not GumGum does not collect Personal Information, data on individuals’ online activities are still being collected, stored and processed as the company uses consumer data for the benefit of providing advertising services to their clients. As you are fully aware, companies are becoming increasingly involved in the sale of consumer data, known as Data Brokerage. Nevertheless, you have the right to stop the sale of your Personal Information and even request the deletion of that Information from a company's databases. Let us help you to make that decision when you continue reading.

Opting Out and Deleting Your Consumer Information

GumGum only allows Californian residents to request the deletion of their Personal Information under the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”); there is no provision for residents of the other States. Nevertheless, the company facilitates requests to opt out of the company’s databases by any consumer. Please note that you may be asked to proceed through an identity verification process before your request can be fulfilled.

Opting Out

Fill out and submit an Online Form as shown in the image below as of August 2022.

Click on the “Exercise your rights” link found on the website’s Footer (the bottom section of the webpage) as shown in the image below.

Deletion of Personal Information (Californian Residents)Online Form

Fill out and submit an Online Form similar to the one above for Opting Out.

Click on the “Do not sell” link found on the website’s Footer (the bottom section of the webpage) as shown in the image below.

Telephone

Make a phone call to GumGum requesting to opt out of their databases or to delete your Personal Information. The contact number is 866-467-8688. Enter 319 as the service code when prompted.

Freedom Exercised

Reducing your digital footprint protects your online privacy while decreasing the risk of your Personal Information being leaked during cyber-attacks. Therefore, exercise your Data Privacy Rights and request the deletion of your Information from the databases of companies.

Company Overview

Oracle is best known as a computer technology corporation for its software products and services. It sells cloud-engineering services and systems, as well as database management systems. Oracle operates its IT predictably, securely, and at a lower cost with cloud infrastructure services designed to run all your cloud-native, web-scale, and mission-critical workloads.

Oracle's cloud application services provide companies with a way to connect their most critical business processes and provide a consistent user experience. This enables businesses to get more done in a shorter amount of time.

Oracle's enterprise resource planning, supply chain management, human capital management, advertising, customer experience, and industrial applications are curated to aid businesses in running more efficiently and effectively.

Oracle's cloud infrastructure services help businesses run their IT operations more reliably and cost-effectively. The benefits include support for cloud-native applications, web-scale workloads, and mission-critical operations. This makes Oracle an attractive option for businesses looking to move to the cloud or expand their current cloud infrastructure.

Oracle's developer services are also a crucial part of its offering. These services make it easy for businesses to integrate their applications with Oracle's cloud infrastructure, analytics, and BI services, allowing companies to fully take advantage of the cloud's power and flexibility.

Type Of Consumer Data Collected

Oracle collects consumer data, including name and physical addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers, demographic attributes, transactional data, company data, location information, and behavioral data. This data is collected directly from consumers through various interactions with Oracle products and services and third-party sources.

How Does Oracle Use Consumer Data?

Oracle uses consumer data for a variety of business and commercial purposes. Some of these purposes include communicating with customers, administering subscriptions, analyzing and optimizing the use of its products and services, and marketing its products and services.

They may also use personal information to manage their sites and facilities' security and operation and comply with applicable laws. They tailor their marketing and sales activities to their customers' interests to provide the best customer experience.

Oracle may also provide selected business-to-business services to Oracle customers using publicly available information about companies. This may include personal information such as the name of a company's CEO that is publicly available.

Does Oracle Share Consumer Data?

Oracle may share personal information with relevant third parties in the event of a reorganization, merger, sale, joint venture, assignment, transfer, or other disposition of all or any portion of their business, assets, or stock.

Oracle may also share personal information with its distributors or resellers for further follow-up related to your interests or with partners offering complementary products and services. Oracle may also share personal information with event partners or conference sponsors for Oracle events.

The Rights Given Under CCPA and GDPR

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) are both pieces of legislation that aim to protect consumers' privacy. They provide several rights to consumers, including the right to access their data, correct their data, and delete them.

The CCPA also provides the right to opt-out of the sale of personal information and the right to receive equal service and prices, even if a consumer exercises their privacy rights. The GDPR provides the right to data portability, the right to object to processing, and the right to be forgotten.

Oracle is committed to protecting consumer privacy and providing customers with choices about how their data is used. Oracle has implemented several products and service features to give consumers more control over their data. For example, Oracle customers can opt out of the sale of their personal information and can delete their data at any time.

How to Request Deletion Of Your Data?

Oracle provides a form on its website for individuals to submit requests to erase their data. Open the form and enter the details required. Oracle will take a bit to verify your identity, and your request will be processed. Always ensure to provide relevant identity information, so the company processes your request quickly.

Alternatively, you can also reach out to the company at:

Phone numbers: +1.650.506.7000 or +1.800.392.2999

Live chat on their website

Mail them at privacy_ww@oracle.com

Data Facts

https://www.datafacts.com/

Company Overview

Data Facts is a consumer reporting agency located in the state of Tennessee. They prepare consumer reports to clients searching for background information on businesses, potential candidates for employment, and potential tenants. Data Facts’ reports include criminal background checks, verification of accreditation, motor vehicle records checks, and much more. The company also offers drug screening and testing services in promotion of a healthy workplace, along with continuous monitoring of the business, employee or tenant. Data Facts works along with a number of partners including cityCURRENT, eSCREEN, PBSA, US Tax Works 2.0 and Walton Management Services. Click on the link below to view the full list of Partners and Affiliates.

Data Fact’s List of Partners

Data Facts and Your Personal Information

Do you know that data is a very valuable currency in today’s technological world? If you didn’t know, then it’s about time you find out how companies like Data Facts are handling your Personal Information. The company’s Privacy Policy, found on its website, details how it intends to manage consumer information and with whom it is shared. Click on the link below to open Data Facts’ Privacy Policy, which was last updated on May 11, 2022.

Data Fact’s Privacy Policy

If the link above doesn’t work, click on the “Privacy Policy” link found on the website’s Footer (the bottom section of the webpage) as shown in the image below.

According to its Privacy Policy, Data Facts is governed by the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”) and laws such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) do not apply to activities conducted under the FCRA. Nonetheless, they allow Californian residents to exercise their Data Privacy Rights under the CCPA. Unfortunately, the document provides very few instructions for persons looking to have their Personal Information deleted, and little control is granted to the average American consumer over their Information.

Data Facts is a company operating with huge quantities of data in order to prepare consumer reports. Such companies are useful to corporations to whom data is a valued currency. Likewise, there’s an increase in companies becoming involved in the sale of data for financial gains. Nonetheless, with existing Data Privacy laws, you can make a request to prohibit Data Facts from selling your Personal Information and even delete that Information from their databases. You have the Right – now it’s time to exercise it.

Opting Out and Deleting Your Personal Information

Data Facts hasn’t provided much for consumers wishing to opt out of their data-selling campaigns or to have their Personal Information deleted from the company’s databases.

Email

Send an email requesting to stop the sale of your Personal Information or request to have your Information deleted. The email addresses to send the request is compliance@datafacts.com.

Freedom Exercised

Exercising your Data Privacy Rights by requesting the deletion of your Personal Information from the databases of companies certainly helps to protect your privacy and reduce your digital footprint. In addition, there’s a reduced risk of your Information being exposed during terrifying hacks and data leaks.

Company Overview

Adstra Data gives you unparalleled access to first-party, third-party, and cross-device data. Their patented Activation Engine helps you turn that data into actionable insights and real-time optimizations. So, companies can reach their target audience with greater precision and achieve better results. This will boost their revenue and increase reach.

Adstra Data understands that data is the lifeblood of marketing. Without it, you're flying blind. That's why they've built the most comprehensive data management and activation platform in the industry. Adstradata, headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, is the only platform that gives you everything you need to turn data into action. That's why it is the choice of leading marketers around the world.

If you want to learn more about how Adstra Data can help you better use your data or anything related to it, click here.

Type Of Data Collected

Like every marketing company, Adstra Data also collects data that it uses to build valuable insights that help companies lead targeted marketing campaigns to boost sales. It collects data from the users based on their activity mainly.

Adstradata collects several types of data, including:

First-Party Data: This is data that you collect directly from your customers and prospects. It can include information like name, email address, postal address, phone number, purchase history, and the business you work for.

Third-Party Data: This is data that you purchase from other companies. It can include demographic information, lifestyle information, and psychographic information.

Cross-Device Data: This is data that you collect across multiple devices. It can include device type, operating system, browser type, IP address, the website pages viewed, and the duration of time spent visiting specific site pages.

What Does Astra Data Do With The Collected Data?

Astra Data uses the collected data to:

Help better understand customers and prospects;

Segment audience for more targeted marketing;

Personalize your marketing messages;

Measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns

Help Clients deliver advertisements and content personalized to their users based

on personalized interests gathered across multiple Screens.

Optimize your marketing spend.

The Rights Under CCPA and GDPR

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is state law for California residents Whereas, The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a European Union law. Both give citizens the right to know what personal information is being collected about them, the right to get a copy of the recorded data, the right to get it all deleted, and the right to opt-out of its sale.

Adstra Data is committed to protecting your privacy. The company promises never to sell or rent your personal information to third parties. Adstra Data will never use your personal information for anything other than the specific purpose for which it was collected.

How To Request Deletion Of Private Data?

The Opt-out process is straightforward, and we should give credit where due. Adstradata provides an easy way to opt out of having your data collected by them. You can do so by contacting Adstra at privacy.officer@adstradata.com or Filling out the necessary forms available on their website, but they are present deep within their privacy policy. To make it easy and time-saving, we will add them here.

Request To Not Sell My Personal Information Request

If you want to proceed with a request not to sell any of your information, fill out this form. This will stop the company from selling your data to any third party, even their partnered companies, for marketing purposes.

Request To Delete Access To Your Data

If you want the company not to access your data and delete all the recorded data, fill out this form. This will make Adstra delete all-time recorded data about you.

Reset Your Advertising ID

You can also Unsubscribe or Unlink your device from Adstra Data, and it will unlink your device from any of the data that has been accumulated and assigned to that ID. Just click here to do so. It is to be noted that you need to remove your advertising ID individually from all devices under your use and from all browsers to revoke Adstra access to your personal information entirely.

After Opting Out

Adstra Data will no longer record your data or send you any personalized ads. However, you will still receive ads as per the law, but they will no longer be personalized based on your data. If you have questions about Adstra's data collection or use practices, don't hesitate to contact Adcstra at privacy.officer@adstradata.com.

Social engineering is a manipulation technique adeptly used by adversaries to trick individuals into revealing personal or sensitive information unlike other forms of cyber-attacks that exploit system vulnerabilities, social engineering zeroes in on human psychology.

This manipulation often takes the form of phishing, pretexting, or impersonation, where the attacker pretends to be a trustworthy entity to extract valuable information. The beauty or, rather, the danger lies in the simplicity of these deceptions, which often lead to individuals divulging passwords, bank details, or other confidential data.

The digital age, while bringing about unparalleled convenience and connectivity, has also opened up a Pandora’s box of cyber threats, with social engineering scams being notably prevalent. Recent statistics and incidents highlight a worrying uptick in such deceptive practices.

The shift towards remote working and the consequent rise in online interactions have only added fuel to the fire, providing a fertile ground for social engineering scams to thrive. From phishing emails to fraudulent customer support calls, the gamut of social engineering scams is as vast as it is detrimental.

As we delve deeper into the common types of social engineering scams in the following section, it becomes imperative to acknowledge the profound impact such scams can have on personal lives and organizational integrity.

How to Detect Social Engineering Scams?

In the battle against social engineering, awareness and vigilance are your strongest allies. Detecting these scams requires a keen eye and an informed mind. Social engineers prey on human psychology and behaviour to weave their malicious narratives, making it vital to recognize the signs of their deceitful plays. Here we’ll explore some key indicators of social engineering scams and how to effectively spot them before falling victim.

1 - Recognizing Phishing Emails

Phishing remains one of the most pervasive forms of social engineering. Attackers often disguise themselves as reputable entities in emails, seeking to gain your trust and pry away your sensitive information.

Recognizing phishing emails is crucial. Look for red flags such as generic greetings, spelling and grammar mistakes, and requests for personal information. Moreover, hover over any links to see where they actually lead before clicking, as malicious links are a common phishing tactic.

2 - Verifying Unexpected Communications

Unexpected communications can be a gateway for social engineering scams. Whether it’s an email from your bank or a call from a supposed government official, always approach unexpected communications with a dose of scepticism.

It's wise to verify the identity of the sender or caller through a separate communication channel. For instance, if you receive an email from your bank, call the number on the back of your bank card rather than any number provided in the email.

3 - Be Cautious of Urgency

A common tactic employed by social engineers is creating a sense of urgency. They aim to rush you into making decisions without thorough scrutiny. Whenever you encounter communication stressing immediate action, take a step back. Evaluate the situation, verify the information, and don’t let the apparent urgency cloud your judgment.

Common Types of Social Engineering Scams

Social engineering scams come in many flavours, each with a unique twist on manipulating individuals to disclose sensitive information. Understanding the common types of scams is the first step towards building a robust defence. Let’s dissect some prevalent social engineering scams that you should be wary of:

1 - Phishing and Spear Phishing

Phishing scams involve attackers disguising as trustworthy entities to harvest sensitive information like login credentials or credit card numbers. Spear phishing is a more targeted variant, where attackers personalize their deceptive messages to a specific individual or organization, often using information gleaned from prior research to appear more convincing.

2 - Pretexting

Pretexting is another form of social engineering where attackers fabricate scenarios or circumstances to extract information from their targets. They might impersonate a company executive, IT support, or a trusted third-party to create a pretext for requesting sensitive data.

3 - Quiz Scams

Beware of online quizzes that are designed to trick individuals into sharing personal or confidential information. These quizzes may appear fun and harmless but could be a gateway for attackers to glean data which can be used in subsequent, more targeted attacks.

4 - Impersonation Scams

Impersonation scams involve attackers pretending to be someone else, often a figure of authority, to extract sensitive information or financial assets. These scams thrive on the inherent trust associated with the impersonated individual or organization, making them notably dangerous.

Defensive Measures Against Social Engineering

While detection is the first line of defense against social engineering scams, having robust protective measures in place is equally critical. A proactive approach towards security can significantly deter social engineers, making it difficult for them to penetrate the protective layers surrounding your personal or organizational data.

Let's delve into some effective defensive strategies that can be employed to fend off social engineering attempts and ensure a safer digital environment.

1 - Education and Training

The cornerstone of defending against social engineering is education and training. Individuals and organizations must be educated on the different forms of social engineering, how they work, and the red flags to look out for. Regular training sessions can help in keeping everyone updated on the latest threats and prevention measures.

2 - Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) can be a significant deterrent to social engineering scams. MFA requires more than one form of identification before granting access to an account, thereby adding an extra layer of security. Even if a malicious actor obtains your password through social engineering, they would still need to bypass the additional authentication measures.

3 - Regular Security Audits

Conducting regular security audits is a proactive measure to identify and fix vulnerabilities that could be exploited through social engineering. These audits can reveal how well your organization’s current security measures are holding up and where there is room for improvement. By regularly evaluating your security posture, you can stay one step ahead of social engineers.

Conclusion

PrivacyHawk is a tool that can add a significant layer of protection in the digital realm, assisting in the prevention of scams by managing one's online data exposure. By identifying and deleting personal data from exposed sites, PrivacyHawk diminishes the likelihood of falling prey to social engineering scams which often leverage publicly available information to craft convincing deceptive narratives.

With fewer data points available to malicious actors, the efficacy of their scams is considerably reduced. Hence, incorporating PrivacyHawk in one's digital hygiene routine complements the vigilant and well-informed approach advocated in conclusion, fostering a more secure digital environment.

The rise of remote work has brought new challenges to cybersecurity. Remote workers are often more vulnerable to cyber threats due to the use of personal devices and the lack of security measures outside the office. That's why we think it's important to talk about some best practices that will keep remote workers and their companies safe from cyber threats. In this article, we’re going to take a look at 7 tips to protect your devices and data.

1. Use strong password management practices

We cannot stress enough the importance of a strong password. It is one of the most basic yet crucial steps to secure your computer and data. You should avoid common or easily guessable passwords as well as using the same one on every account. What we recommend is using a mix of upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters. Also, consider using a password manager to generate and store passwords.

2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Your accounts can never be too protected, that's why using two-factor authentication will provide you with that extra layer of security by requiring a second form of identification, such as a text message or biometric scan, in addition to a password. Using this kind of security process can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access to your accounts and data.

3. Keep Your Software Up-to-Date

We know that sometimes it is easier to hit pause on an update and “do it later”, but sometimes that later is too late. Keeping your software up-to-date is crucial to ensure that your device has the latest security patches and bug fixes. Cybercriminals often target outdated software with known vulnerabilities. We recommend setting your device to download and install updates automatically.

4. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)

When working remotely, using a VPN is a must! A VPN is a service that encrypts your internet connection and helps protect your privacy by masking your IP address. Consider using a VPN to access your company's network or sensitive data. It can also prevent eavesdropping and unauthorized access to your data.

5. Use Antivirus and Firewall Software

There's a reason why this software exists. Antivirus and firewall software can help detect and prevent cyber-attacks. Enable your firewall to restrict unauthorized access to your device and block suspicious network traffic. Plus, don't forget to keep your antivirus and firewall software updated.

6. Be Cautious of Phishing Scams

Did you know that phishing scams are one of the most common cyber threats? Remote workers should be extra cautious of phishing scams, as they often use social engineering to trick users into providing their personal and financial information. Don’t open suspicious emails or messages or answer suspicious phone calls, and avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.

7. Secure Your Wi-Fi Connection

When working remotely, your Wi-Fi is one of the most basic yet essential tools. So securing your Wi-Fi connection seems like something rational to do. With this, you will prevent unauthorized access to your network and data. We also recommend using a strong and unique Wi-Fi password and consider disabling the guest network feature. Also, try using a WPA2 or WPA3 encryption to protect your Wi-Fi network.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity is crucial for remote workers to protect their devices and data from cybercrimes. By using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, keeping software up-to-date, using a VPN, antivirus and firewall software, being cautious of phishing scams, and securing your Wi-Fi connection, you can significantly reduce the risk of cyber attacks. Remember that cybersecurity is an ongoing process, and you should always be cautious and proactive in protecting your digital assets, and an easy way to do it is by using PrivacyHawk.

It’s a personal privacy manager that helps individual consumers quickly and easily understand what data is being collected about them online and how it’s being used. With PrivacyHawk, you can easily protect your personal information.

Protecting businesses’ systems from unauthorized access is of the utmost importance to cybersecurity. Social engineering is the cause of 98% of successful cyber attacks. These attacks use personnel's personal information to gain unauthorized access to systems through impersonation and phishing attacks.

Every member of an employer’s staff is a potential vulnerability whose personal information could be used to compromise their systems. And each one could have a personal digital footprint with hundreds of personal data exposures.

It is of vital importance to a business’s cybersecurity to reduce the number of attack vectors of their systems through the personal data of their personnel. Of particular importance is the personal information about personnel available online from data brokers, social media profiles, and other corporate data breaches.

The Problem

For every thousand employees a company has, each with an estimated digital footprint of 350 vulnerabilities, there are potentially 350,000 copies of their personnel’s data that could be used for social engineering attacks that could compromise their systems (per 1000 employees).

Removing each of these exposures manually for each individual is virtually impossible without technology. It would require all 1,000 personnel to spend weeks or longer trying to

track down all the places they gave their personal information to, along with finding all the data brokers selling their personal info,

researching how to remove each exposure by reading each privacy policy, filling out the web form to delete their info, and then

follow up to verify that each one has been processed. Additionally, new exposures rise each month, resulting in ongoing monitoring being required.

PrivacyHawk estimates that it would initially take 60 hours per person and then another 2 hours monthly to manually manage this. For 1,000 personnel, that’s 84,000 hours per year spent manually reducing their digital footprints to reduce the risk of it being used for cyberattacks on their business systems. With an average cost of $70 per hour per employee, it would cost a company nearly $6 million per year per 1,000 employees to try to solve this problem manually without technology.

The Solution

PrivacyHawk uses robotic process automation and software to automate the above thousands of hours of work to reduce the digital footprint and number of social engineering attack vectors of the company as a whole. PrivacyHawk already has an existing, commercially available, working solution that can be used to help significantly reduce the number of personal data vulnerabilities that could be used to compromise a business’s systems.

This reduces the risk of data breaches and their associated costs, reduces the risk of IP theft and unauthorized access to company systems, and reduces the risk of social engineering hacks against the company. Ultimately that reduces the liability and cost risks of a data breach to the company and its insurers.

As the internet becomes an increasingly integral part of our daily lives, it's important for individuals to be aware of the risks of cybersecurity threats and to take steps to protect themselves online. Cybersecurity threats can come in many forms, including malware, phishing scams, and data breaches, and they can have serious consequences for individuals, such as identity theft or financial loss.

Here are some best practices for protecting yourself online:

1. Use strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts. Avoid using the same password for multiple accounts, and create a strong password by using a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters.

2. Enable two-factor authentication whenever possible. Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring you to enter a code that is sent to your phone or email in addition to your password.

3. Be cautious about sharing personal information online. Avoid sharing sensitive information such as your Social Security number or financial information on public websites, and be careful about who you share your personal information with.

4. Keep your software and devices up to date with the latest security patches. Hackers often exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software, so it's important to keep your devices and software up to date to protect yourself.

5. Use antivirus software and a firewall to protect your devices. Antivirus software can help protect your devices against malware, while a firewall can help protect your devices against unauthorized access.

6. Be cautious about emails and websites. Be wary of emails or websites that ask for personal information or that contain links or attachments that you weren't expecting.

7. Use a virtual private network (VPN) when connected to public WiFi. A VPN encrypts your internet connection and can help protect your data when you're connected to public WiFi.

By following these best practices, you can help protect yourself and your personal information online. It's important to be vigilant about cybersecurity threats and to take steps to protect yourself to ensure that you can safely enjoy the benefits of the internet.

Another action you can take to prevent being targeted by cybercrime is using a tool like PrivacyHawk, which identifies where your personal data is exposed, putting you at risk, and automatically removes these vulnerabilities. It's available in the Apple App Store; try it today!

With social media's ever-evolving landscape, it is important for parents and guardians to be aware of how to protect teenagers' privacy on Instagram and Facebook. Social media has become a major part of life for most people, especially teens, who often use online platforms as an outlet to express themselves with friends and peers.

If not properly managed or monitored, this can lead to unintended consequences. Fortunately, there are ways that parents and guardians can help secure the safety of their children while allowing them access to these powerful social media networks.

In this blog post, we will discuss some useful tips on how you can ensure teenagers' privacy when using Instagram and Facebook. So, let's begin.

Why Is It Important To Protect The Privacy Of Teenagers?

Protecting the privacy of teenagers on Instagram and Facebook is important because they may not yet have developed the skills and knowledge necessary to protect themselves online. Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to cyberbullying, identity theft, and other misuse of their personal information.

Furthermore, here are some more reasons why you should protect teenagers' data when using the internet.

1. Prevents them from being exposed to potential predators: Social media is a breeding ground for cyberbullying, trolling, and other forms of online harassment. Teenagers need to be able to protect themselves from these types of dangers.

2. Saves from being exposed to inappropriate content: Teenagers are vulnerable to seeing things they should not be exposed to, and it is important to protect them from them.

3. Allows them to have an appropriate amount of control over their online presence: Teenagers should be able to decide what information is shared and who can see it. Controlling this will help them stay safe online.

4. Help to protect their mental health: Teenagers are more susceptible to feeling anxious, depressed, and other mental health issues due to the content they may be exposed to. Having the ability to protect their privacy can help them protect their mental health.

5. Help them stay away from cyberstalkers: They may be able to track teenagers’ online activity if their privacy settings are insufficient, and it is important to protect them from this type of danger.

Tips To Protect The Privacy of Teenagers

Worried about how to protect your teen's privacy? No need to get upset because you can follow the below-mentioned tips to ensure your teen's privacy is completely protected.

Educate your teen about online privacy and security: Explain why protecting their online privacy and keeping their information secure is important.

Set appropriate social media boundaries: Discuss with your teen the type of content they are allowed to post online and inappropriate content.

Monitor online activity: Establish guidelines for the types of websites your teen can visit and the amount of time they can spend online.

Set up parental controls: Use parental control software to limit your teen’s access to inappropriate content.

Set strict rules for sharing personal information: Make sure your teen understands not to share their personal information, such as their address, phone number, or other identifying information, with anyone they don’t know.

Talk to your teen about cyberbullying: Explain to your teen why it is wrong and how to respond if they are cyberbullying victims.

Explain the consequences of sexting: Make sure your teen knows that sending images of themselves to someone else can have serious consequences.

Ensure your teen uses strong passwords: Teach them to use strong passwords to protect their accounts.

Encourage your teen to think before they post: Remind your teen that once something is posted online, it can’t be taken back.

Be a good role model: Let your teen see that you take online privacy and security seriously by following these tips yourself.

PrivacyHawk Helps Protect Teenager’s Data

While it’s important for parents to closely monitor their child’s social media activity, teenagers also need to be aware of the importance of privacy settings and how to use them. As our society becomes increasingly reliant on technology, it’s more important than ever that we take steps to protect our privacy, especially when it comes to sharing personal information online.

PrivacyHawk is a personal privacy manager that helps individual consumers (not businesses or organizations) take control of their digital footprint and safeguard their private information. If you’re looking for ways better to protect your teenager’s privacy on social media, consider using a tool like PrivacyHawk.

Data breaches have become increasingly common in recent years, with hackers accessing the sensitive personal and financial information of millions of individuals and organizations. While there have been many data breaches throughout history, some have had a particularly significant impact due to the large number of records that were compromised, the sensitive nature of the data that was accessed, or the long-term consequences for those affected.

1. Yahoo data breach (2013-2014):

In 2013 and 2014, hackers accessed the personal information of all 3 billion user accounts on Yahoo's servers. The hackers obtained access to information such as names, email addresses, and security questions, as well as unencrypted security answers. The breach had serious consequences for Yahoo and its users, and the company ultimately settled with the Federal Trade Commission, agreeing to pay a $35 million fine.

2. Marriott data breach (2018):

In 2018, hackers accessed the reservation system of Marriott's Starwood Hotels chain and accessed the personal information of up to 500 million guests. The hackers obtained access to information such as names, addresses, passport numbers, and reservation details. The breach had serious consequences for Marriott and its guests, and the company ultimately reached a settlement with the UK's data protection authority, agreeing to pay a $124 million fine.

3. Equifax data breach (2017):

In 2017, hackers accessed the personal information of 147 million customers of credit reporting company Equifax. The hackers obtained access to sensitive information such as names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, and addresses. The breach had serious consequences for Equifax and its customers, and the company ultimately reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, agreeing to pay up to $700 million in fines and compensation to those affected by the breach.

4. Adobe data breach (2013):

In 2013, hackers accessed the personal information of 152 million customers of software company Adobe. The hackers obtained access to sensitive information such as names, email addresses, and encrypted password data. The breach had serious consequences for Adobe and its customers, and the company ultimately reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, agreeing to pay a $1 million fine.

5. eBay data breach (2014):

In 2014, hackers accessed the personal information of 145 million users of the online marketplace eBay. The hackers obtained access to information such as names, addresses, and encrypted password data. The breach had serious consequences for eBay and its users, and the company ultimately settled with the Federal Trade Commission, agreeing to pay a $20 million fine.

Data breaches can have serious consequences for individuals and organizations, and it's important to take steps to protect your personal information and to be cautious about sharing sensitive information online. Some general tips for protecting yourself online include using strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts, being cautious about sharing personal information online and keeping your software and devices up to date with the latest security patches.

If you want to find out exactly which companies have your private data, putting you at risk of being in a data breach, you can get a free exposures report from the the PrivacyHawk app. Take your data privacy to the next level by getting deleted from unwanted and vulnerable databases where your data is on exposed. Available on the Apple App Store.

The biggest mistake people make is believing that hackers only attack businesses. Yet, they tend to focus more on the individuals as there are fewer security layers than a company. For that, the first thing that you can think of is using an online Password Manager.

But can you trust online password managers? After all, they are also applications that work for their benefit. The simple answer is yes, you can trust them, but you need to know some essential things before using a password manager.

Learn about the essential security steps you need to take while using online password managers and whether you should trust them. This article covers all the critical information for you.

What Is A Password Manager?

Password Managers can safely organize and keep your passwords safe, with them being the database. You can understand it as an online secret notebook with all your login details saved in it.

There are two types of password managers. One is a device-based manager where all the passwords are saved inside your device, but it is risky. You will lose all your passwords if you lose your device or it gets corrupted. The second option is to use a cloud-based password manager that is accessible online from anywhere.

Are Password Managers A Safe Choice?

The password manager helps you keep the passwords for your email IDs, bank accounts, and other applications. All your passwords are put in a strong security vault that only opens with a master password or two-step authentication.

With password managers, you can use strong passwords without forgetting them. Writing your password manually on a piece of paper may make you lose it, or anyone else could find it. With it, you can remember complicated passwords with many symbols, capitals, and small letters.

It leads to a password renewal every time you use your application. Some people even use a single password on different websites and accounts. But think about it for a moment: if your password gets hacked, you will lose everything. To avoid all these frustrations, password managers could be trusted.

A password manager is the safest option than other alternatives. They are less likely to be hacked by anyone, which could make you lose your passwords. So, we recommend that you trust a password manager and start protecting your passwords.

How Do Password Managers Secure The Passwords?

Password managers use strong encryption and a master password that is unreadable by others. Some devices also allow you to unlock the vault using biometric authentication or a face ID. But it is better to use a master password that will be impossible to crack.

Password Manager companies have zero knowledge of your passwords, so they are entirely trustworthy. In their history, password managers have never faced a serious breach, which means that they are handling the job perfectly.

Avoid These Password Security Mistakes

Whether you use a password manager or not, many people make some privacy mistakes. To save yourself from unwanted situations, here are some mistakes you must avoid if you do not want yourself to be stuck in a miserable situation.

Don't Use Sticky Notes

Some people write the passwords on sticky notes to keep them near the working space. They are quickly dropped or lost; in worse conditions, someone could just take your sticky note away or at least write down the password.

Avoid Saving Passwords In Browsers

When adding a password to log in to a website or while setting up a new account, you get pop-ups to remember the password for next time. It feels like a secure way, but actually, they are less secure than encrypted password managers.

Don't Use Obvious Passwords

Obvious passwords mean using your phone number, date of birth or loved one's name. Hackers can easily access these types of passwords.

Take An Extra Privacy Step…

Overall, password managers can be a great way to stay organized and secure online. However, it is important to do your research to find a reputable manager who has high-security standards in place to protect your sensitive information.

PrivacyHawk is a trustworthy and reliable privacy manager that will clean up your privacy, delete you from spam databases, and give you control over who can use your data and how. With PrivacyHawk, you can be sure that your data is safe and secure.

Wondering how you can protect your children from various unfiltered online data? Well, the Children Online Privacy Protection Act can guide you through. Like other acts against different cybercrimes, this one’s also an act to release parents' stress against internet use by children.

The COPPA applies to getting data from or showing data to children under 13 years of age. When there are so many sites and content on the internet, it’s very important to know the limitations for your young children to protect them.

Don’t know anything about COPPA? This article will explain every bit to help you out.

What Is the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act?

In 1998, Congress enacted the COPPA to protect children's online privacy. Whenever a website collects or discloses personal information from children under 13, they must obtain their parent's consent.

COPPA also requires websites to provide parents with information about how their child's information is collected and used.

What’s Covered Under COPPA?

You must have noticed a particular type of ad after searching for a thing on the internet. To stop this from happening with children, it’s important to protect their privacy. Parents should be given all rights to protect and limit the data usage by their children.

Here are some things covered under COPPA:

1 - Data collection, use, and sharing from children on websites must be outlined in a privacy policy.

2 - Children's personal information must be collected, used, or disclosed with their parent's consent.

3 - Parents must be allowed to refuse to allow their children's personal information to be collected by websites.

4 - Parents should be able to control the websites their children access and use. This way, parents can ban children's access to adult or unwanted sites whose data isn’t good for children.

5 - Parents should know about the third parties who can access their children's data. Additionally, with control over disallowing the particular third parties with whom parents are not comfortable to share data.

6 - To protect the security and confidentiality of the personal information collected from children, website operators must take reasonable measures.

Is the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act effective?

The law protects children's online privacy by requiring websites to follow strict guidelines to protect children's privacy online. Parents must consent before companies collect or share information about their children, and they must limit how the data they collect can be used. Companies that violate COPPA can face costly fines.

Some argue that COPPA needs to be more effective as it does not protect children from data collection by companies outside the US and does not cover the use of facial recognition technology.

How To Protect Your Children’s Data?

Relying on COPPA isn’t enough; you must take personal measures to protect your child’s safety fully. Here are some steps that will help you with this:

Teach your children about online safety: Ensure your children know the risks of going online and how to stay safe. Make them aware of potential risks and teach them how to protect themselves online.

Monitor their online activity: Monitor what your children are doing online and with whom they communicate.

Set ground rules for online behaviour: Set rules for online behaviour, such as not sharing personal information, not using bad language, not downloading unknown files, and not visiting websites or downloading apps that are inappropriate for their age.

Use parental control software: Install parental control software to monitor, filter, and block access to certain websites, apps, and content.

Use secure passwords: Use secure passwords for your family's online accounts and encourage your children to do the same.

Check privacy settings: Regularly check and adjust the privacy settings of your children's websites and apps.

Limit the amount of time spent online: Set limits on how much your children can spend online to keep them from spending too much time online, which can be detrimental to their physical and mental health.

Know your children’s online friends: Get to know them and make sure they are who they say they are.

Final Words

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) was created to help protect the privacy of children under the age of 13 who use the internet. This act requires websites and online services that collect personal information from children to obtain parental consent before doing so.

If you are a parent with young children, it is important to be aware of COPPA and how it can affect their online privacy. PrivacyHawk offers a variety of tools and resources to help parents keep their children safe online.

PrivacyHawk’s monitoring system will help you monitor which websites collect children's personal information. With PrivacyHawk, you can rest assured knowing that your child’s online privacy is being protected.

You must have heard about identity theft and the horrible results of it. According to a report, 7 to 10% of the US population becomes a victim of fraud activity. These stats give goosebumps to almost everyone because anyone can become a victim of ID theft. Then, what are the ways that can save you from becoming a victim of ID theft?

Various applications are available in the market to protect your ID. But besides using the applications, you must know what to do to avoid such events. External software can only save you from ID theft if you're taking precautions from your side. Are you worried about how to avoid being a victim of ID theft? Don't worry! This article will explain everything.

What Is ID Theft?

A person's name, email ID, phone number, and even social media accounts are his belongings that anyone else cannot use. But sometimes hackers steal the ID information and use it for fraudulent and illegal activities. It is known as ID theft.

It could be done for different purposes, such as to gain personal benefits by using your followers, to blackmail you, to get money from your family and friends, or sometimes just to damage your reputation among your followers.

Tips To Avoid ID Theft

ID theft is undoubtedly scary, but by working on some tips, you can avoid losing your identity. Look at the tips discussed below to ensure you never get caught in ID theft.

Avoid Using Public Wifi

Public Wi-Fi is the easiest way to get caught in ID theft. Most public Wi-Fi providers control all the user information of every person connecting with the Wi-Fi. So, you pay a very heavy price for free public Wi-Fi. Even if you have to use it is recommended to put the barrier of a VPN between your data and the Wi-Fi provider.

Stay Aware From Scam Calls

Scam calls are the biggest way scammers use to get access to your bank accounts, email addresses, and other personal information. Promising to provide you with a heavy gift amount, these scammers fraudulently take your OTP and get access to your accounts.

Stay aware of such calls, and do not provide bank details and OTPs over the phone. If you receive calls claiming to be from your bank, refuse to give any information and visit your bank as soon as possible to report the call.

Set Up Strong Passwords

Setting up a weak password on your personal information or using a similar password for different websites often leads to ID theft. You become easy prey for scammers and hackers, allowing them to steal your valuable information.

Learn what a strong password should be like, and then reset all your accounts' passwords. Another tip is to keep on changing your passwords every few months to reduce the chances for hackers to crack your password. Give a hard time to the hackers by setting up a very strong password with more characters making no connection with each other.

Don't Share Personal Information Over Phone

Personal information must not be shared over emails, messages, or phone calls. Your device is possibly hacked, and the hacker can easily access your accounts using the information you share. Even in emergencies, try to meet with the person who needs to send or receive money from you. You will be saved from ID theft and other blackmail.

Keep A Check On Your Accounts

Never leave your accounts on their own. Check them regularly. For instance, bank accounts to ensure there are no issues with money count.

Conclusion

The best way to avoid being a victim of ID theft is by taking proactive steps to delete your data from unknown, unwanted or unsecured databases. By doing this, you can help reduce the risk of your private information ending up in the wrong hands. PrivacyHawk offers a service that helps you automatically find companies using or selling your data so you can take action to protect your privacy. Have you taken steps to prevent ID theft? What other methods do you recommend?

TikTok doesn't provide a free platform to shoot, edit and post videos. Instead, it's taking something even bigger than money from you. Just like other social media platforms, TikTok apparently has some not very "private" privacy policies.

TikTok gathers data from 1.2 billion users for various purposes. The worst thing is that even youngsters under 13 years old are accessing this platform. In this article, you will learn the 6 data privacy issues of TikTok that you might not know before. So, let's begin!

6 Data Privacy Issues of TikTok

Every user provides some information to TikTok for account registration. This information is collected and could be available to the public. But things do not stop here because much of the data is collected by TikTok itself that you might not be willing to share.

Have a look at the below-mentioned 6 privacy issues faced by TikTok users. The worst part is that many users do not even know that their privacy is at risk using TikTok Tok.

1 - Contacts Information

When a user registers on the application, all his contacts are accessible for TikTok. The name, email address, and other information regarding every contact in your device are at risk because TikTok can collect and misuse it. Even if there is no misuse, still this data could be used for marketing purposes.

2 - Geographic Location

TikTok has direct access to your IP address, which means your geographic location is continuously in the hands of the application. If TikTok sells this data to a third party, you can be threatened, kidnapped, or more using your location access.

3 - Face Closeup

Having your camera access TikTok captures the close-up of your face while registering your account. Face closeup is accessible biometric data linked to other pictures outside the application. This can create a huge security and privacy threat to you and your family. Your biometric information could be used in fraudulent activities, leaving you in an extremely bad situation.

4 - Data From Underage Children

The fancy world of TikTok captures youngsters in itself; that’s why many underage users use TikTok. The app collects data from kids who are younger than 13 years old. In February 2019, TikTok paid the Federal trade commission a 5.7 million dollar fine. The application was blamed for illegally collecting the personal information of underage children.

5 - U.S Government Don't Want TikTok

The way TikTok gathers users' data has made it unacceptable to the defense department of the US military. They advised the government to remove TikTok from devices, especially government-issued smartphones. Many military branches have made a compulsory requirement to delete the application because of security concerns.

6 - Security Controls

TikTok has implemented excessive security controls that allow it to control users' practices easily. Wells Fargo Bank has warned its employees to eradicate TikTok from its system. The reasons are security-based.

How Can You Protect Yourself From TikTok Privacy Issues?

If you use TikTok, you must unintentionally share much personal information that TikTok can expose. That's why it's essential to know how to make your TikTok account more private by customizing some settings.

Change your account's setting from public to private.

Keep the option "suggest your account to others" off because this option leads unknown people to visit your profile without your knowledge.

Change comment settings to avoid harassment and rubbish comments.

Manage direct message settings to keep intruders away.

Disallow unknown people to download your video. Anyone can watch your video on TikTok, but only allow some to download your data.

Are You Afraid To Lose Your Private Information From TikTok?

While TikTok may be a fun and entertaining social media platform, users must be aware of the dangers that come with sharing their personal data. From personal data collection to targeted ads, there are several ways your information could be used without your knowledge or consent.

PrivacyHawk can help you take control of your personal data and protect yourself from identity theft, fraud, and other online threats. Visit our website today to learn more about how we can help you stay safe online.

Being the world's most popular messaging app, with over 2 billion monthly active users, WhatsApp is popular in more than 180 countries. With such a vast user count, WhatsApp has to regularly update its privacy policy to maintain the user's data.

As WhatsApp allows people to communicate privately, it's essential to declare a privacy policy. It helps people to know what kind of information WhatsApp collects from their messages and other activities on the application. This article will explain how much of your data is protected or open to WhatsApp algorithms.

3 New Policy Updates On WhatsApp

WhatsApp updated its policy on 9th August 2022 and claimed to provide more layers of protection to its users with the new update in the policy. Users will have advanced control over the messages, making things easier. These changes include:

1 - Anonymously Leave The Group

The group chat option on WhatsApp is helpful for businesses and families. Sometimes, the experience could be more pleasing, leading to the departure of the group. But what happens after you leave the group? Private messages from group members to ask why you left the group.

Isn't it annoying? Don't worry because with the new update of WhatsApp, you can leave the group silently without any notification to other members. Only the group admin will know about your exit.

2 - Stay Online Secretly

Whatsapp is used both for business and private purposes, which sometimes creates inconvenience. You may want to use WhatsApp privately, and your boss will see you online. You'll get a direct message about your project's progress.

Now you can control this by changing your WhatsApp settings. You can select the contacts with whom you want to share your online status.

3 - No Screenshot For View Once Messages

In 2021 WhatsApp introduced a new feature of 'view once.' Using this, a user could send a video or image that disappears once it is opened. But more protection was needed for security and privacy purposes. People started taking screenshots of one-time view photographs.

To address the issue, WhatsApp edited another extra feature associated with the 'view once.' Now, no user can take screenshots of such images, which means that a photograph will only be viewed once and then deleted from the receiver device.

Shocking WhatsApp Privacy Policy Updates In 2021

In 2021 WhatsApp privacy policy took a new dimension, shocking every WhatsApp user. Since its launch, WhatsApp has always been a private messaging application. Suddenly the owners announced that WhatsApp users' data would be shared with Facebook and its partner companies.

Personal data, users' IP addresses, phone numbers, and even the activity were to be shared. This announcement was published on the company's blog, where it clarified that it would not access the user's private messages. They claimed that 'WhatsApp was built on a simple idea: what you share with your friends and family stays between you.

So, it was clear that misinformation was spreading that WhatsApp would no longer be safe to use. Still, it was undisputable that user preferences would be used for marketing purposes.

How Do Companies Use WhatsApp User Data?

According to the 2021 WhatsApp policies, the user data is shared with different companies to help them target the audience, boosting their businesses. The main actions that those companies could take regarding user data include the following:

Display relevant ads related to the users' needs

Help with completing transactions and other purchases

Advancement in the security and delivery system of the companies

Suggesting connecting with new groups, friends, and companies

How To Protect Yourself On WhatsApp?

WhatsApp’s new privacy policy changes have caused quite a stir among users. The updated policy would allow WhatsApp to share user data with Facebook for business purposes. However, if you're concerned about your personal privacy on WhatsApp (or any other social media platform), be sure to take steps to protect yourself online.

For this, you can consider using an app like PrivacyHawk, which helps individual consumers keep track of their privacy and limits information sharing across all their devices and accounts.

You might know that the new owner of Twitter is 'Elon Musk', but are you aware of the new privacy policies Twitter has?

Twitter is a free platform with over 30 million active users, increasing every day. This is why they need to improve the platform, which is only possible if they know what people want. From collecting your data to sharing it with other parties, there are five things that you should know about Twitter's privacy policy.

What Is Twitter's Privacy Policy?

Twitter is a public platform where you share your data accessible to everyone out there. Twitter's privacy policy means the data they collect about you using your tweets, likes, shares, and even the information you have added to your account.

Twitter's privacy policy explains what type of data they collect and how much your privacy is protected while using Twitter. It also explains if they collect personal data from your device without permission. Social media applications are often accused of stealing data from people without their consent. Let's have a look if Twitter is doing so or not.

5 Untold Things About Twitter's Privacy Policy

Learn these five things so the next time you use Twitter, you'll know what information you send to Twitter's algorithms.

1 - Information You Provide To Twitter

When you create a Twitter account, you must provide some information to register on the site. This information is accessible and usable by Twitter by all means. Some of the information that you provide includes:

Username

Password

Date of birth

Language

Your location

Address book

2 - Your User Experience Recorded

Twitter records which page, ads, or data you are interested in. Doctor collapses information about how you use their products and services to help keep up their value. Some of the data that Twitter collects include:

Content in your post

Your broadcast data

Retweets, shares, replies, tags

People you follow and vice versa.

Content of direct messages

The links you use from Twitter

3 - Data Collected From Third Parties

Some third parties have contracts with Twitter based on whom they share their user data with Twitter. Some of these third parties share the following information:

Twitter generated identifiers

Mobile device IDs

Cookie IDs

Email addresses

Demographic data

Viewed content

Actions taken

4 - Affiliates On Twitter Have Their Own Policy

Some Twitter services, like TweetDeck, help you customize your experience on Twitter. Some services also allow you to enhance your experience outside Twitter. These affiliates may be collecting more data than Twitter itself.

5 - You Can Change Your Privacy Settings

Where Twitter is collecting lots of data from your Twitter account, there is one good news, too. Some of the privacy is still in your hands, and you must control it. These are some changes you can make to your account's privacy policy.

You can enable or disable personalized ads. This setting controls ads from Twitter advertisers by combining your activity on Twitter and the information from Twitter third-party partners.

Twitter recognizes different devices from where you log into your account. You can turn off this setting depending on whether you want Twitter to record your activities from other devices.

Don't Let Twitter Know Everything….

In this technology-oriented world, your digital data is a huge asset, and no one wants to lose it. Whether it's Twitter’s privacy policy or any other application, you must be very careful about your privacy. You can use as many careful measures as possible to protect your data from Twitter. These steps include:

Read the complete privacy policy of Twitter to learn what is being controlled by them.

Customize your settings from the privacy policy menu in your application. Try to give the least access to Twitter on your data.

Using a VPN can also be a good choice because, in that case, you can protect your location.

Final Words

Since its inception, Twitter has been a go-to source for real-time news and commentary. The social media platform boasts over 336 million monthly active users worldwide, which is why it’s no surprise that the company updated its privacy policy in June 2018. As we continue to grow and engage with one another through social media channels like Twitter, it’s important to be aware of the privacy implications involved.

Luckily, by being proactive and understanding what you agree to in terms of Twitter’s Privacy Policy, you can help keep your personal information safe while still enjoying all that Twitter has to offer. And if you need a little extra help staying on top of things, PrivacyHawk can take care of your privacy for you by helping you take control of your digital footprint.

It seems like every day, we hear about another data breach or compromised account. With the amount of personal information, it's important to stay informed and protect yourself online. You can use several tools and tactics to do this, and today we're going to explore five of them. Keep reading to learn more!

What Is Online Privacy?

Online privacy is the practice of protecting your personal information online. It means taking steps to ensure that your data is secure and not accessible to unauthorized individuals or organizations. This includes limiting what information you share, using strong passwords and encryption, and being aware of potential scams and phishing attempts.

Tools To Strengthen Your Online Privacy

There are many tools available to consumers, paid and for free, that can help keep your data secure. Here are a few of the most popular:

1 - Virtual Private Network(s) or VPNs

Although there is no one hundred per cent safe place on the Internet, some are more dangerous than others. The most perilous connection you have is your local one, the link you use to access the World Wide Web. All of the data passing through this connection can be traced back to you since you either sent or received it.

These attacks are most commonly and successfully executed at the initial link, which is, unfortunately, where you, as the user, are located. VPNs are software programs that create a secure connection between your device and the Internet. This means that data sent back and forth between your computer and the Internet is encrypted, making it much harder for someone to intercept or access it.

This is useful because it prevents others from seeing what you're doing online or where you're located geographically. It also makes it more difficult for middle parties to gain access to your devices or information.

2 - Password Manager

We all know that creating strong, unique passwords is important, but it can be challenging to remember them all. This is where password managers come in handy. They are tools designed to store all your passwords securely while allowing you to quickly and easily log into sites without having to type out long, complicated strings of characters every time.

Another similar way is to use 2FA. Two-factor authentication is an extra layer of security that helps verify your identity before allowing access to a website or service. This typically involves entering something you know (like a password) and something you have (like a one-time code sent to your phone). This makes it much harder for hackers to gain access because they'll need more than just your username and password.

3 - Firewall

A firewall is a defensive tool that helps protect networks and computers from unauthorized access. It does this by monitoring the traffic passing between these devices and the Internet. If any malicious or suspicious activity is detected, it will block those attempts and alert you accordingly. This can be an especially useful tool for businesses that want to make sure their sensitive data remains secure from outside threats.

4 - Data Encryption Software

Encrypting data is one of the most effective ways to ensure online safety and privacy. The pre-encrypting technique has been used to ensure data security. It works by encrypting the data on the user's end, using a pre-shared key or certificate, and then sending the encrypted data over a network connection.

Pre-encrypting the data before it leaves the sender's computer prevents anyone from intercepting and reading it during transit. This makes sure that all of the information stays secure until it reaches its intended destination.

5 - Antivirus/Malware Software

Another way to protect yourself online is by using antivirus and malware software. Although it's not technically a privacy tool, antivirus and malware protection software are important to your online security.

These programs scan your computer on a regular basis for any malicious activity and can detect potential threats before they cause any damage. This can help prevent data theft, identity theft, and other cybercrimes. It's important to update this software regularly so it can continue to protect you against the latest threats.

Final Thoughts

At Privacy Hawk, our main goal is to equip all consumers with the knowledge and tools needed to stay safe online. Using the right tools and taking appropriate steps to protect yourself online can greatly reduce the chances of becoming a victim of cybercrime. It's important to remember that no single solution is perfect or foolproof, so combining different methods for maximum security is always wise.

How And Why Should You Keep Your Instagram Account Protected Online?

Protecting your online accounts is more crucial than ever in the digital age. One of the most widely used social media sites is Instagram, which is a terrific way to stay in touch with friends and family throughout the world. However, because the site has so many users, there may also be security risks that you need to be aware of. This article will discuss why it's critical to safeguard your Instagram account and how to do it.

How To Keep Your Instagram Account Protected Online?

There are many ways to protect your Instagram account online. Here are some tips to help ensure your information stays secure:

Use a Strong Password:

Make sure to use a strong password that is different from your other passwords. Avoid common words, phrases, and numbers that are easy to guess. Keep a good mix of symbols, upper and lower case letters, and numbers.

Additionally, you can use a two-factor authentication protocol. Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your account by requiring a code in addition to your password when you log in. This code can be sent via text message or email.

Don't Post Personal Information:

Don't post your address, phone number, or other sensitive information in your Instagram posts. This makes it easier for someone to access your account and private information. Never share your passwords with friends; your password should only stay with you.

Be Careful About Clicking Links:

Be cautious when clicking on any suspicious links you receive, as they could be malicious. Don't download files sent by people you don't know. This is especially important for the links you receive in your DMs. Do not open any link that looks suspicious or has been received from an unknown person.

Report any spam or hacked accounts:

If you see any suspicious activity on your account, contact Instagram immediately.

Why Should You Keep Your Instagram Account Safe?

Keeping your Instagram account safe is important for several reasons. Here are some potential risks to be aware of:

1 - Your account could be hacked: If you don't have strong passwords and two-factor authentication enabled, your account is more vulnerable to being hacked.

2 - You could be a target of cyberbullying: Unfortunately, cyberbullying is becoming more common on social media platforms, and it's important to keep your account secure to protect yourself from potential attacks.

3 - People could gain access to your personal information: Once someone has gained access to your account, they can see any personal information that you've posted, such as your address or phone number.

4 - Photos and videos that you've posted could be used without your permission. If someone hacks into your account, they can access any photos or videos you've posted and use them without your consent. They may even ask for money from people using your identity.

5 - Someone could start posting fake content on your behalf: A hacker could also post fake content under your account name to damage your reputation or spread malicious content.

6 - You don't want the connection with friends and family to be compromised. With access to your account, a hacker can also reach out to any of your friends or family members by messaging them from your account, potentially putting them at risk.

What To Do If Your Instagram Password Has Been Hacked?

If you suspect your Instagram password has been hacked, here are a few steps you can take to protect your account:

Change your password immediately: If you think someone has gained access to your Instagram account, you should first change your password.

Check connected apps and services: Log into your Instagram account and check the connected apps to make sure no one has linked any unauthorized services.

Secure all other accounts: If you use the same password for your other online accounts, changing those passwords is important to ensure they are secure.

Final Thoughts

In today's digital world, keeping your personal information and online accounts safe is more important than ever. The solution to the problem of online privacy is more complicated than just changing your Instagram settings. However, by utilizing a personal privacy manager like PrivacyHawk, you can take control of your data and keep your information safe from prying eyes. Have you taken steps to protect your online privacy? Let us know in the comments below.

How Can We Exercise Our Privacy Rights?

Now, this is where technology has to come in. So what if a law gives you the right to delete your data if you have to track down 10,000 companies and make a request to each of them? There is no universal “delete” or “do not sell” list like the US tried to do with Do Not Call, which has been a miserable failure, by the way.

So there need to be tools out there that automate the process of transparency of what is being done with our data and automates opting out of where we don’t want our personal data being used.

There are now some apps and services, like PrivacyHawk, that we’re building, that help people take back transparency and control over how their data is used. Privacy services will soon become as common as antivirus and homeowners insurance. Everyone has it.

What we can tell you is that corporations aren’t going to help you. And the government will make some laws that are hard to take advantage of. But it’s really dangerous to just do nothing about our privacy.

As artificial intelligence gets exponentially better, as we are seeing, it will become more powerful, and it will be much easier to use AI to manipulate and scam us using all the data out there available to scammers and bad people. It is already relatively easy to piece together thousands of data points about billions of people. It’s not too far away that scams and identity theft will be more common using AI, which will make it much harder to stop.

So we’ve got to take back control over our privacy before it takes control of us and harms us, our friends, or families.

PrivacyHawk has a free inbox scan feature that can help you easily identify which companies and apps are likely to be using your private information. You can use PrivacyHawk to delete requests for any apps that no longer need your data.

PrivacyHawk also automates data broker removal for you so you don’t have to spend weeks trying to do it yourself. And it continually monitors for new risks and automatically squashes them as soon as they are found.