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Data Privacy Day 2022 Events and Resources For You!

Posted on January 25, 2022 by Jean Eaton in Blog

Data Privacy Day 2022 Events and Resources for You!

Data Privacy Day is an internationally recognized day dedicated to creating awareness about the importance of privacy and protecting personal information.

That means a lot to me and I think it means a lot to you, too. I think it is important that we give our patients and clients the gift of privacy. And that we have the right tools and resources for our employees to make good privacy and security decisions in our businesses.

Information Managers Ltd. is a Data Privacy Champion!

Data Privacy Day Champion

As a DPD Champion, Information Managers recognizes and supports the principle that organizations, businesses, and government all share the responsibility to be conscientious stewards of data by respecting privacy, safeguarding data, and enabling trust.

Each of us is responsible to manage our name and our identity. When you share your personal information, you have the right and responsibility to ask the person or business why they need the information and how they will protect your personal information.

Jean L. Eaton

Your Practical Privacy Coach, Information Managers Ltd.

You can be a Data Privacy Day Champion, too! Follow this link and complete the Organization Champion Form with the National Cyber Security Alliance.

Data Privacy Day Activities

5 Steps To Prevent Employee Snooping

SAY NO TO SNOOPING!

If an individual affiliate knowingly breaches the privacy and security of health information, and the custodian can demonstrate that reasonable safeguards (including privacy awareness training) were in place, the individual affiliate can be charged under the Health Information Act. Fines of up to $50,000 may be applied to the individual, in addition to other sanctions from their employers and/or their professional regulatory colleges where applicable (HIA s.107).

What Is Snooping?

Looking at someone’s personal information without having an authorized purpose to access that information to do your job is known as ‘snooping’.

Even when you are “just looking” at personal information but don’t share that information with anyone else, this is still a privacy breach.

It is illegal.

Snooping incidents are on the rise and can cost you time, money, heartache, and headache in your practice.

When there is an offence under the privacy legislation like the Health Information Act, there may be an investigation, charges and court appearances, fines, penalties, and loss of employment.

Snooping is entirely preventable. 

How Can You Prevent Employee Snooping?

Let’s take a look at the pro-active steps that you can take today to prevent employee snooping.

 

prevent employee snooping

Download the Practice Management Success Tip 5 Steps to Prevent Employee Snooping

The Practice Management Success Tip, 5 Steps to Prevent Employee Snooping, will help you

  • Take 5 practical steps to prevent employee snooping.
  • Provide clarity about what is considered a privacy breach.
  • Contribute to the health information privacy compliance in your healthcare practice.
Download 5 Steps to Prevent Employee Snooping HERE!

I Heart Privacy!

Just in time for Data Privacy Day! Print badges for your team.

I Heart Privacy
I Heart Privacy

Right-click the image and select ‘Save As' to download and insert the image into your favourite templates to make badges or stickers or labels.

Or, use the done-for-you sheet of labels that you can print right away and slip into badge holders or print to stickers or labels.

You can even customize the labels and add your business name!

Get the label sheets using the buttons below.

I Heart Privacy Badges with Data Privacy Day logo
I Heart Privacy Badges

Protect Your Organization and Your Patients With a Privacy Awareness Quiz

Equip your staff with the information they need to confidently and correctly handle personal health information.

Healthcare businesses need privacy awareness training to support key policies and procedures, and risk management programs need a privacy awareness training program.

Reasonable Safeguards

As an employer and healthcare provider, you are responsible to provide training to all of your employees about privacy awareness.

If you don't provide the training, or if the employees don't understand the policies and there is a privacy breach, then the healthcare provider is more likely to be held accountable under the legislation and face penalties, including fines and even prison!

Patients value the privacy and security of their information.

Healthcare providers and clinic managers value privacy and security, and they value not having adverse results as a lack of compliance or patient safety issues.

Data Privacy Day Privacy Awareness Quiz

Patients trust their healthcare providers with their sensitive, personal, and financial information.

If patients don't feel that the healthcare provider will keep their information confidential and secure, patients may choose not to share their information, which may impact their healthcare and treatment.

When we are privacy aware, we can better respond to patients' questions and build their trust in the quality of services that we provide.

Download the Privacy Awareness Quiz to use today to train your employees and protect your patients' health information.

Download the Privacy Awareness Quiz!

Privacy Protection In The Pink Seat with Dr. Angela Mulrooney & Jean Eaton

While privacy is not technology driven, the lack of privacy, perhaps, is impacted by technology.

Many dental practices are overwhelmed with creating and implementing privacy and security policies and procedures and how to prepare a privacy impact assessment.

Angela and I discussed practical privacy tips for your dental practice to help reduce the overwhelm.

These tips apply to all types of healthcare practices.

 

“Talk Shop – Protect Your Business from Information Breaches”

Jean Eaton is a guest on Lauren Sergy's “Talk Shop” YouTube channel.

Talk Shop: learn from industry experts to be a better communicator in work and in life, hosted by @lsergy. Privacy tips for business owners, just in time for Data Privacy Day!

For more Data Privacy Day resources and events from the National Cyber Security Alliance, click the button below!

Visit the National Cyber Security Alliance - Data Privacy Day website

Stay Safe Online

For more information about how to get involved in Data Privacy Day and the Champions program, visit https://staysafeonline.org/data-privacy-day.

You can also follow the campaign on Twitter at @StaySafeOnline or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DataPrivacyNCSA and use the official hashtags #PrivacyAware and #DataPrivacyDay to join the conversation.

Please use the social share buttons to share these Data Privacy Day activities with your friends and colleagues.

Follow Us On Social Media!

I share privacy tips and free links to additional resources on social media accounts that you can download and use right away!

Follow Us Here:

  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow

#DataPrivacyDay, #PrivacyAware, Data Privacy Day, Data Privacy Day Champion, Data Privacy Day Edmonton, healthcare

Data Privacy Day 2021 Events and Resources For You!

Posted on January 7, 2021 by Meghan in Blog

Data Privacy Day 2021 Events and Resources for You!

Data Privacy Day is an internationally recognized day dedicated to creating awareness about the importance of privacy and protecting personal information.

That means a lot to me and I think it means a lot to you, too. I think it is important that we give our patients and clients the gift of privacy. And that we have the right tools and resources for our employees to make good privacy and security decisions in our businesses.

Information Managers Ltd. is a Data Privacy Champion!

Data Privacy Day Champion

As a DPD Champion, Information Managers recognizes and supports the principle that organizations, businesses, and government all share the responsibility to be conscientious stewards of data by respecting privacy, safeguarding data, and enabling trust.

Each of us is responsible to manage our name and our identity. When you share your personal information, you have the right and responsibility to ask the person or business why they need the information and how they will protect your personal information.

Jean L. Eaton

Your Practical Privacy Coach, Information Managers Ltd.

You can be a Data Privacy Day Champion, too! Follow this link and complete the Organization Champion Form with the National Cyber Security Alliance.

Data Privacy Day Activities

5 Steps To Prevent Employee Snooping

SAY NO TO SNOOPING!

If an individual affiliate knowingly breaches the privacy and security of health information, and the custodian can demonstrate that reasonable safeguards (including privacy awareness training) were in place, the individual affiliate can be charged under the Health Information Act. Fines of up to $50,000 may be applied to the individual, in addition to other sanctions from their employers and/or their professional regulatory colleges where applicable (HIA s.107).

What Is Snooping?

Looking at someone’s personal information without having an authorized purpose to access that information to do your job is known as ‘snooping’.

Even when you are “just looking” at personal information but don’t share that information with anyone else, this is still a privacy breach.

It is illegal.

Snooping incidents are on the rise and can cost you time, money, heartache, and headache in your practice.

When there is an offence under the privacy legislation like the Health Information Act, there may be an investigation, charges and court appearances, fines, penalties, and loss of employment.

Snooping is entirely preventable. 

How Can You Prevent Employee Snooping?

Let’s take a look at the pro-active steps that you can take today to prevent employee snooping.

 

prevent employee snooping

Download the Practice Management Success Tip 5 Steps to Prevent Employee Snooping

The Practice Management Success Tip, 5 Steps to Prevent Employee Snooping, will help you

  • Take 5 practical steps to prevent employee snooping.
  • Provide clarity about what is considered a privacy breach.
  • Contribute to the health information privacy compliance in your healthcare practice.
Download 5 Steps to Prevent Employee Snooping HERE!

Understanding Mandatory Privacy Breach Notification

To celebrate Data Privacy Day, Information Managers is hosting a free, 30-minute webinar on Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 12:00pm Noon MT.

Mandatory Privacy Breach Reporting is here!

Do you know how this will affect your healthcare practice?

If you are a custodian – including physicians, pharmacists, optometrists, opticians, dentists, dental hygienists, chiropractors, nurse practitioners, podiatrists, midwives, and more! – as defined by Alberta's Health Information Act, then…this free webinar is for you!

Avoid Fines

On August 31, 2018, amendments to the Health Information Act (HIA), came into force that introduce a fine of not less that $200,000 for a person who fails to take reasonable steps in accordance with HIA regulations to maintain safeguards to protect against reasonably anticipated threats to the security of health information (sections 107(1.1)(a) and 107(7)).

What you need to know about mandatory privacy breach notification!

In this free webinar, Jean L. Eaton, Your Practical Privacy Coach will explain:

  • what is a privacy breach
  • why a privacy breach is a significant problem
  • why have mandatory privacy breach notification
  • lessons learned in the first year of mandatory notification
  • offence and penalty provisions of the HIA
  • privacy breach notification requirements
  • what you need to do now

 

Click Here to Register for the Free Webinar!

I Heart Privacy!

Just in time for Data Privacy Day! Print badges for your team.

I Heart Privacy
I Heart Privacy

Right-click the image and select ‘Save As' to download and insert the image into your favourite templates to make badges or stickers or labels.

Or, use the done-for-you sheet of labels that you can print right away and slip into badge holders or print to stickers or labels.

You can even customize the labels and add your business name!

Get the label sheets using the buttons below.

I Heart Privacy Badges with Data Privacy Day logo
I Heart Privacy Badges

Protect Your Organization and Your Patients With a Privacy Awareness Quiz

Equip your staff with the information they need to confidently and correctly handle personal health information.

Healthcare businesses need privacy awareness training to support key policies and procedures, and risk management programs need a privacy awareness training program.

Reasonable Safeguards

As an employer and healthcare provider, you are responsible to provide training to all of your employees about privacy awareness.

If you don't provide the training, or if the employees don't understand the policies and there is a privacy breach, then the healthcare provider is more likely to be held accountable under the legislation and face penalties, including fines and even prison!

Patients value the privacy and security of their information.

Healthcare providers and clinic managers value privacy and security, and they value not having adverse results as a lack of compliance or patient safety issues.

Data Privacy Day Privacy Awareness Quiz

Patients trust their healthcare providers with their sensitive, personal, and financial information.

If patients don't feel that the healthcare provider will keep their information confidential and secure, patients may choose not to share their information, which may impact their healthcare and treatment.

When we are privacy aware, we can better respond to patients' questions and build their trust in the quality of services that we provide.

Download the Privacy Awareness Quiz to use today to train your employees and protect your patients' health information.

Download the Privacy Awareness Quiz!

Privacy Protection In The Pink Seat with Dr. Angela Mulrooney & Jean Eaton

While privacy is not technology driven, the lack of privacy, perhaps, is impacted by technology.

Many dental practices are overwhelmed with creating and implementing privacy and security policies and procedures and how to prepare a privacy impact assessment.

Angela and I discussed practical privacy tips for your dental practice to help reduce the overwhelm.

These tips apply to all types of healthcare practices.

 

“Talk Shop – Protect Your Business from Information Breaches”

Jean Eaton is a guest on Lauren Sergy's “Talk Shop” YouTube channel.

Talk Shop: learn from industry experts to be a better communicator in work and in life, hosted by @lsergy. Privacy tips for business owners, just in time for Data Privacy Day!

For more Data Privacy Day resources and events from the National Cyber Security Alliance, click the button below!

Visit the National Cyber Security Alliance - Data Privacy Day website

Stay Safe Online

For more information about how to get involved in Data Privacy Day and the Champions program, visit https://staysafeonline.org/data-privacy-day.

You can also follow the campaign on Twitter at @StaySafeOnline or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DataPrivacyNCSA and use the official hashtags #PrivacyAware and #DataPrivacyDay to join the conversation.

Please use the social share buttons to share these Data Privacy Day activities with your friends and colleagues.

Follow Us On Social Media!

Each day, from January 22 – 28, we will have daily privacy tips and free links to additional resources on social media accounts that you can download and use right away!

Follow Us Here:

  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow

#DataPrivacyDay, #PrivacyAware, Data Privacy Day, Data Privacy Day Champion, Data Privacy Day Edmonton, healthcare

Data Privacy Day 2019 Events for You!

Posted on January 11, 2019 by Jean Eaton in Archive

Data Privacy Day is an internationally recognized day dedicated to creating awareness about the importance of privacy and protecting personal information.

Information Managers Ltd is a Data Privacy Champion!

As a DPD Champion, Information Managers recognizes and supports the principle that organizations, businesses, and government all share the responsibility to be conscientious stewards of data by respecting privacy, safeguarding data and enabling trust.

“Each of us is responsible to manage our name and our identity. When you share your personal information, you have the right and responsibility to ask the person or business why they need the information and how they will protect your personal information.”

 Jean L. Eaton, Your Practical Privacy Coach of Information Managers Ltd.

Data Privacy Day Activities

Understanding Mandatory Privacy Breach Notification

To celebrate Data Privacy Day, Information Managers is hosting a free 30-minute webinar on Monday January 28, 2019.

Mandatory Privacy Breach Reporting is here!

Do you know how this will affect your healthcare practice?

. . then this free webinar is for you!

If you are a custodian–including physicians, pharmacists, optometrists, dentists, dental hygienists, chiropractors,  nurse practitioners, podiatrists, midwives, optometrists, opticians, and more!–as defined by Alberta's Health Information Act, then  . . then this free webinar is for you!

You need to know how mandatory privacy breach notification will affect you!

In this Free Webinar, Jean L. Eaton, Your Practical Privacy Coach will explain

  • what is a privacy breach
  • why a privacy breach is a significant problem
  • why have mandatory privacy breach notification
  • lessons learned in the first 4 months of mandatory notification
  • offence and penalty provisions of the HIA
  • privacy breach notification requirements
  • what you need to do now

 


“Talk Shop – Protect Your Business from Information Breaches”

Jean Eaton is a guest on Lauren Sergy’s “Talk Shop” YouTube channel.

Talk Shop learn from industry experts to be a better communicator in work and in life hosted by @lsergy. Privacy tips for business owners just in time for Data Privacy Day!

Talk Shop learn from industry experts to be a better communicator in work and in life hosted by Lauren Sergy!

 

 


I Heart Privacy!

Just in time for Data Privacy Day!

Print badges for your team.

I heart privacy Right-Click the image and select ‘Save As' to download and insert the image into your favourite templates to make badges or stickers or labels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Or, use the done-for-you sheet of labels that you can print right away and slip into badge holders or print to stickers or labels.

I Heart Privacy DPD Badges      I Heart Privacy Badges

You can even customize the labels and add your business name!

 

 

 

Privacy is good for business

“Data Privacy Day Forum in Edmonton”

Alberta’s Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) OIPC is hosting a free event on Friday January 25 including Mandatory Breach Reporting under the Health Information Act: The First Four Months . Register at https://www.oipc.ab.ca/.

Follow Us On Social Media!

Each day from Jan 22 – 28, we will have for daily privacy tips, and free links to additional resources on our social media accounts  that you can download right away! Follow us!

Twitter

 

 

Stay Safe Online

For more information about how to get involved in Data Privacy Day and the Champions program, visit https://staysafeonline.org/dpd . You can also follow the campaign on Twitter at @DataPrivacyDay or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DataPrivacyNCSA and use the official hashtag #PrivacyAware to join the conversation.

Please use the social share buttons below to share these Data Privacy Day activities with your friends and colleagues.

#DataPrivacyDayHealthcare, #PrivacyAware, Data Privacy Day, Data Privacy Day Champion, Data Privacy Day Edmonton

Why You Need Privacy Awareness Training

Posted on May 15, 2017 by Jean Eaton in Blog

There are many examples of privacy breaches internal to healthcare organizations–Snooping. Hacking. Unsecure emails with patient information. Faxes sent to the wrong person. Patient records found in garbage cans. Ransomware. Mobile devices without encryption being lost or stolen.

Privacy legislation, professional standards and best practices require healthcare professionals and their employees and business associates to protect against reasonably anticipated threats to the security and confidentiality of health information.

Privacy in healthcare is important.

A Privacy Breach Affects the Individual, the Business, and the Healthcare Industry

After a privacy breach, the individual may now be at a real risk of significant harm (ROSH) from identity theft, stalking, loss of employment, and financial loss if the information is used for fraud.

The individual affected by the privacy breach may be embarrassed, inconvenienced, or angry.

Of importance in healthcare is the risk of medical identity theft where the breached information is used to fraudulently access healthcare services. Because of this, inaccurate information added to the owner’s healthcare records which can cause errors or delays in receiving necessary care and treatment.

without privacy awareness training

Without privacy awareness training

Privacy breaches are expensive –bad publicity, loss of business, loss of goodwill, fines, penalties, and sanctions. Ontario PHIPA legislation, for example, has recently doubled its fines. Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) including Bill 119, the Health Information Protection Act (HIPA) – Amendments to the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) which was proclaimed in 2016. With the introduction of Bill 119, the fines for offences have doubled from $50,000 to $100,000 for individuals and $250,000 to $500,000 for organizations.

Privacy breaches affect all healthcare businesses. The healthcare system is a highly integrated information sharing system designed to provide timely and accurate care and treatment to patients, and to receive financial compensation for those services. A weakness or problem at one business may have down-stream implications to other businesses. When one business has a privacy or security breach, there is a risk that the public (including patients and clients) may think that all healthcare businesses have the same problems.

Privacy Awareness Week #PAW2017

Privacy Awareness Week (May 15-21) is a global effort coordinated by members of the Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities (APPA) to promote awareness of privacy issues and the importance of the protection of personal information. Each year various members of APPA and other supporters across the world develop resources and communications materials to support their activities during Privacy Awareness Week.

 

Pause for Privacy

Pause for Privacy #PAW2017

 

Why Invest in Training?

New technology, regulatory and legislative changes, and new office procedures are common triggers to provide training in any business. Your employees need to learn these skills so that they can be efficient at their jobs. When you provide training, you give employees the tools that they need to succeed and contribute to an efficient practice.

As an employer and healthcare provider, you are responsible to provide training to all your employees about privacy awareness.

There are many examples of privacy breaches that dispel the myth that someone who has worked in healthcare for a long time, or has had advanced university training and professional ethics automatically understand how to properly manage personal health information. We know that errors in judgment and malicious intent can occur at every level of a healthcare organization. A common, comprehensive privacy awareness training provides a foundation for everyone in the organization to confidently and properly handle personal health information. A documented program will help to mitigate the risks to an organization when an individual jeopardizes personal health information even after receiving privacy awareness training.

[clickToTweet tweet=”Myth: Experienced healthcare workers automatically understand how to properly manage personal health information #PHI” quote=”Myth: Experienced healthcare workers automatically understand how to properly manage personal health information.”]

What is the Best Way to Provide Training?

The best privacy awareness training program includes a mix of formal, planned training programs and episodic, just in time, targeted education opportunities. Consider a privacy awareness training program strategy that includes:

  • Privacy awareness foundation – in-person or on-line for everyone in your practice including new employees, healthcare professionals, support team, vendors and business associates.
  • Specific training – when there is new or changes in software, equipment, procedures or practices, employee promotion or change in roles.
  • General reminders throughout the year in fun and multi-media formats; quizzes, posters, articles, training tips at staff meetings, frequently asked questions (FAQ), etc.
  • Demonstrate good privacy and security practices and behaviours throughout the year.
  • Recognize when individuals demonstrate following privacy principles that also add value to your patient satisfaction or business efficiency.

Benefits of Privacy Awareness Training

Privacy awareness training is needed in your healthcare practice to

  • Understand patient and client privacy rights.
  • Respect personal health information and your obligations.
  • Confidently and correctly handle personal health information.
  • Use reasonable safeguards to protect personal health information (PHI).
  • Recognize and respond to a privacy breach
  • Support key policies, procedures and risk management programs in your healthcare practice.
Benefits of Privacy Awareness Training

Benefits of Privacy Awareness Training

Regular privacy awareness training is considered a common reasonable safeguard to protect patient information and the reputation of the healthcare providers.

Many privacy breaches are avoidable. Privacy awareness training can help prevent privacy breaches or help employees to spot and stop the breach quickly.

 

 

Initiatives like Privacy Awareness Week also provide additional tips, templates, tools, and training from supporters of this event. You can follow Privacy Awareness Week on Twitter using the hashtag #PAW2017 and #PrivacyAware.

In conjunction with Privacy Awareness Week, Information Managers www.InformationManagers.ca and Corridor Interactive www.CorridorInteractive.com have announced the release of the newest addition of the “Privacy Awareness in Healthcare: Essentials” series with a focus on Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) legislation. The first on-line privacy awareness training in this series released in 2016 focused on Alberta’s Health Information Act. Many other provinces have health information legislation as well, and while some of the key terms differ from province to province, this privacy awareness training is applicable to any organization that collects, uses, and discloses personally identifying information.

More information can be found here https://InformationManagers.ca/Privacy-Awareness-Corridor/.

#PAW2017, #PrivacyAware, Corridor Interactive, Health Information Act, healthcare, medical, Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), Privacy Awareness in Healthcare: Essentials, privacy awareness training, privacy awareness training in healthcare, Privacy Awareness Week

How to Prevent Phishing Attacks

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Jean Eaton in Blog

“Hello Dear sir/madam, I have received large sum of money to be transferred to your bank account.Please to email me right away with your account information. Many thanks.”

Ever get one of these emails? We're pretty good at recognizing this kind of scam, but cyber criminals are very clever to find new ways to hijack our personal data.

These kinds of attacks are called “social engineering attacks” and they include “phishing”, “spear phishing”, “pharming” and “vishing“. These attacks exploit human tendencies of wanting to be helpful to people in need, trusting those with some form of authority, or even just being curious or greedy.

By claiming to be a system administrator who needs your password to fix your account, or your credit card company needing to verify your credit card number and expiration date, or someone from far away who will give you millions of dollars as soon as you send him some money first….these are all ways to gain unauthorized access to systems or information in order to commit fraud or identity theft.

It only takes one click!

A phishing scam usually involves an e-mail that encourages a user to click on a link, which could then expose the user’s computer to malicious software. The software can then open the doors to unauthorized disclosure of information, loss of information and/or denial of network service.

We have also seen an increase in the number of ransomware attacks where the attacker, once inside the victim’s system, changes the passwords or encrypts the data from the authorized users’ files. The attacker then demands that the owner pay them to return access to the information.

Last year, the Canadian Revenue Agency was forced to delay the tax-filing deadline because its network was exposed to the Heartbleed bug, which essentially allows unauthorized people to access supposedly protected Internet traffic. A computer-science student in London, Ont., is facing several charges for exploiting the vulnerability created by the bug to access sensitive information.  (The Globe and Mail May 14, 2015.)

Don't get caught on the phish-hook! 

There are many creative ‘cyber bad guys' who love to trick you into providing your personal information. You need to educate yourself about the kind of scams out there, and take heed to prevent a cyber attack.

[clickToTweet tweet=”Employees are widely considered to be the weakest link in security infrastructure. Be #PrivacyAware” quote=”Employees are still widely considered to be the weakest link in any security infrastructure, so it’s no surprise that phishing remains so popular and effective. “]

The fact is, good phishing email looks just like regular messages from people we know and care about, and to make matters worse, it can also be difficult to detect.

When it comes to phishing, prevention is the best defense. Investing in employee education and training now can save you a great deal of time and effort further down the line.

How Do You Avoid Being a Victim?

Tip – Be secure, be suspicious, be up-to-date.

Instructions

Digital chores

Click the image to download the pdf

  • Learn more about phishing – The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has a Top 10 tips to protect your inbox, computer and mobile device.
  • Educate yourself – and your staff and family– about cyber security awareness. Use the ‘The Realist’s Guide to Cybersecurity Awareness’ from Barkly to help you with ideas on how you can create a privacy and security awareness program.
  • Print the poster 5 Ways to Help Employees be Privacy Aware.
  • Use the Family Digital Chores Checklist from ESET-NCSA to remind you to conduct routine digital maintenance at home and at work.
  • Be suspicious of emails from financial institutions or other organizations hat ask you to provide personal information online. Reputable firms never ask for information in this manner.
  • Look closely for clues to fraudulent emails like a lack of personal greetings and spelling or grammatical mistakes.
  • Verify a phone number before calling it – if someone left you a message or sent an email claiming to be from your financial institution, make sure you check that the number is the one printed on the credit card or your bank statement.

 

DPD Champ badge

Celebrate Data Privacy Day with Information Managers!

 

[clickToTweet tweet=”Practical #Privacy tips, tools, and resources! Get it before it's gone. #PrivacyAware” quote=”Concerned about your privacy online? The FREE Data Privacy Day E-course makes it easy for you to enjoy the benefits of the internet while protecting your privacy.”]
It's easy, fun and filled with practical tips, tools, and resources!

Click here: Get it before it's gone.

Follow Data Privacy Day around the world using Twitter and #PrivacyAware.

#PrivacyAware, Data Privacy Day, email phishing, phishing, Practical Privacy Coach, prevent phishing attacks, privacy awareness, security

Smartphone Privacy Tips

Posted on January 26, 2017 by Jean Eaton in Blog

Ah, smartphones. The wonderful technology that lets us call, text, email, and Facebook to our heart's content, all while throwing some digital angry birds. What's not to love?

Quite a lot, actually, if you fail to protect your privacy.

Smartphones can store and transmit a wide range of data that third parties can access – such as your contact list, your pictures, and your browsing history. They are also vulnerable to viruses and malware that can compromise your personal information. Many apps that you have downloaded or pre-installed use geo-location, which allows you to be tracked wherever you go. Using Wi-Fi hotspots are a great way to get around paying for data usage on your phone bill, Wi-Fi hotspots can also leave you vulnerable to intrusion.

Wondering if a smartphone is a good idea for your child?

Taylor Tompkins provides step by step instructions on how you can modify your child’s smart phone security settings to help you limit the phone’s applications that meet parental approval and empower your child to use their smartphone responsibly.

For more security tips for your SmartPhone, including a review of apps, how to secure your work email, access your bank from your mobile device, make safe purchases on your mobile, and reduce security breaches see, “Smartphone Security Guidance” (TigerMobiles.com)

Memory Devices Too

Sometimes we forget that our cell phones are memory devices, too. Plugging in your cell phone to a computer USB port might be convenient way to listen to music while you are at work or to charge up your phone – but it is also a way to upload viruses from the phone to the computer or to download data from the computer to the cell phone![clickToTweet tweet=” Don't let employees plug in their phones to your computers at work. #PrivacyAware” quote=” Don't let employees plug in their phones to your computers at work.”]

Do You Use a Digital Wallet?

Using your phone to pay for your purchases is the ultimate convenience. Not surprisingly, it comes with additional risks, too. VISA recommends users to keep “L-O-K” in mind to add  extra layers of security to protect your digital wallet. See more details here:

How to “LOK” down your digital wallet

So how do you protect your mobile privacy?

Tip – Secure and protect your phone to protect your smartphone privacy.

Instructions

  • Secure your phone with a unique password
  • Protect your phone with security software and update its operating system when prompted
  • Opt-out of the location service feature – many apps do not need geo-location enabled to work
  • Limit the type of business you conduct using Wi-Fi hotspots. If you use Wi-Fi frequently, consider using a VPN connection.  See the infographic from Point-Bl_nk Communications
  • Turn off blue-tooth and Wi-Fi roaming; turn it on only when you need it
  • Help the Good Samaritan return your lost phone; enable your screen lock display with a contact phone number or email to find you.

For more smartphone privacy tips, see Information Managers Data Privacy Day E-course. Get it before it's gone!

Resources

Ackroyd, Brandon. “Smartphone Security Guidance” (TigerMobiles.com) 2015- Dec-14.

Martin, Stacy. “Helpful or Creepy? The Creep-O-Meter Could Help You Find Out” Stay Safe Online Blog 2015-Nov-13.

Tompkin, Taylor. Empowering Your Child to Use Their Smartphone Responsibly, Stay Safe Online Blog, 2013-Jul-16.

See all the Data Privacy Day E-course resources posted each day on our website.

DPD Champ badge

Celebrate Data Privacy Day with Information Managers!

[clickToTweet tweet=”Concerned about your privacy online? Practical tips, tools, and resources! Get it before it's gone. #PrivacyAware. ” quote=”Celebrate Data Privacy Day with Information Managers! Tweet This!”]

Concerned about your privacy online? The FREE Data Privacy Day E-course makes it easy for you to enjoy the benefits of the internet while protecting your privacy.
It's easy, fun and filled with practical tips, tools, and resources! Get it before it's gone.

Follow Data Privacy Day around the world using Twitter and #PrivacyAware.

We are proud to be a Data Privacy Day Champ!

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Are cookies a good thing?

Posted on January 24, 2017 by Jean Eaton in Blog

Hungry? Cookies may sound good when they're filled with chocolate chips, but when cookies are used to track your online activity, they can result in behavioral tracking that advertisers use to target products to you.

You may be okay with this when it leads you to your next great shoe sale, but if you use a shared computer and search for something more private, the next person to browse the web on your computer may get bombarded with ads for the wedding rings – something you didn't want them to know.

A silly example, but if you use the internet for activities that require more personal information – such as online banking or shopping – cookies can save and remember your account number, credit card number, mailing address, phone number and more.

Privacy Tip – Delete your cookies!

Especially if you use a shared computer or if you are doing activities that require your personal information.

 

Celebrate Data Privacy Day with Information Managers!

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Concerned about your privacy online? The FREE Data Privacy Day E-course makes it easy for you to enjoy the benefits of the internet while protecting your privacy.
It's easy, fun and filled with practical tips, tools, and resources! Get it before it's gone.

Follow Data Privacy Day around the world using Twitter and #PrivacyAware.

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Why Does Data Privacy Matter So Much?

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Jean Eaton in Blog

Data privacy is important. But the real question is, why does data privacy matter so much?

“Our personal information is built with our data that enriches, defines, educates and connects us. Data tells our story.” M. Dennedy, VP & CPO at Cisco.

Celebrate Data Privacy Day with Information Managers!

Tweet This!

Concerned about your privacy online? The FREE Data Privacy Day E-course makes it easy for you to enjoy the benefits of the internet while protecting your privacy.
It's easy, fun and filled with practical tips, tools, and resources! Get it before it's gone.

Follow Data Privacy Day around the world using Twitter and #PrivacyAware.

We are proud to be a Data Privacy Day Champ!

#PrivacyAware, best practice, Data Privacy Day, Practical Privacy Coach, Practice Management Mentor, privacy awareness, training

Do Your Club Volunteers Protect Your Privacy?

Posted on January 17, 2017 by Jean Eaton in Archive
Your family is busy! Kids have sports teams, social clubs, and classes. Parents are involved in clubs and networking too–and, sometimes, you are the volunteer manager and snack co-ordinator, too.

But – do your club volunteers know how to protect your privacy? 

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Join the live webinar to discover the 3 simple practical steps every club needs to improve your club's procedures and prevent complaints, fines, and even jail time!

Practical tips that you can use right away to protect your privacy! with Jean L. Eaton, Your Practical Privacy Coach!

30 Minute Live Webinar followed by Q&A

Saturday, January 28
10 am MST
This webinar is a special presentation in the Data Privacy Day E-Course. Your FREE webinar registration also includes access to the FREE Data Privacy Day E-course.
The Data Privacy Day E-course is a FREE on-line course. You will receive one email a day from January 23 – 31 with a privacy tip that can be applied at your home or your office.
It's easy, fun and filled with practical tips, tools, and resources! Get it before it's gone.
Webinar replay will be available in your E-course but join us live – because that's the only way that you get the Q&A!
Register Here
#PrivacyAware, Data Privacy Day, privacy, protect your privacy, webinar

Are They Watching You?

Posted on January 30, 2016 by Jean Eaton in Blog

Smart appliances may be too smart for our own good. Take smart TVs, for instance. As this article illustrates, some of these new appliances are particularly vulnerable to hackers. Once compromised, the TVs allow access to account information, including login credentials (which owners may use for access to more than just their smart-TV account).

Even scarier, hackers could gain access to front-facing cameras to see everything happening in the room where the TV is connected. Instead of you watching your favorite program, criminals may be watching you!   This may also apply to Skype webcams, X-box and other games with webcams (Kinect, Wii, PS, etc), laptops and security cameras.

Once the machine is compromised, hackers can stealthily activate its front-facing camera (available on higher-end smart TVs), hijack a Samsung account, steal credentials by presenting fake login pages and infect other applications on the TV with malware.

Your App is Watching

When you download an app, it tells you it can work better or give you personalized offers or other things you might like if you switch Location Services on. For example, a dining recommendations app might offer you a coupon when you walk past a restaurant. Are there other types of apps that might want your location? What types of offers would make it a worthwhile exchange for you? Do you think this is useful or Creepy? For more examples, see “Helpful or Creepy? The Creep-O-Meter Could Help You Find Out” and try the ‘Creep-o-Meter’ activity.

Tools and programs like the Creep-o-Meter can help digital citizens be more privacy aware and own their online presence. Remember these STOP. THINK. CONNECT. tips when you use social media, play online games and engage with other technology platforms and tools.

  • Share with care: what you post can last a lifetime: Before posting online think about how it might be perceived now and in the future and who might see it.
  • Learn about and use privacy and security settings on your favorite online games, apps and platforms.
  • Be aware of what’s being shared: Be aware that when you share a post, picture or video online, you may also be revealing information about others. Be thoughtful about when and how you share information about others.
  • Personal information is like money. Value it. Protect it. Be thoughtful about who gets your personal information and how it’s collected through apps and websites.

Tip:  When you are not using the webcam, unplug it!

How many times a day are you handing over your information?

How many times a day are you handing over your information?

Instructions

  • Use a hard wired LAN connection from PC to Smart TV – often more secure than using wireless networking (as wireless is often not installed securely, either).
  • Unplug the Ethernet cable and/or delete the wireless network connection settings.
  • Put tape over the camera and inbuilt mic if included, and put a blank 3.5″ plug into any mic input sockets.
  • Don't allow your Smart TV access to any other devices on your network (laptops, PCs, smartphones, tablets).
  • Don't log in from your TV to any websites that have sensitive information
  • DON'T re-use passwords on any other sites, especially not high-value sites like banking or email.

Resource

Privacy for Everyone: Closing the Gap Between the Privacy-Have's and the Privacy Have-Nots  Address by Patricia Kosseim, Senior General Counsel and Director General, Legal Services, Policy and Research Branch, (June 2014)

Rebecca Herold (a.k.a. The Privacy Professor) for more tips.

‘Technocreep' author says new technologies have been invading our privacy like never before , CBC interview, The Current with Anna Maria Tremonti and Tom Keenan

WeLiveSecurity. ESET 10 Steps to Staying Secure on Public Wi-Fi. 2015-Sep-02

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