LITTLE ROCk, Ark. (January 27, 2012) - On January 28 the United States, Canada and many other countries celebrate Data Privacy Day.
It's an annual international celebration designed to promote awareness about privacy and education about best privacy practices.
Arkansas officially declared January 29 as Data Privacy Day in the Natural State.
The Attorney General has listed steps that can be taken now to help ensure that Arkansans aren't unintentionally compromising their personal information.
Know your privacy settings.
A industry study found that 21 percent of adult social network users are leaving their profiles open for anyone to see. That's about 24 million Americans.
The same study found that 70 million people have shared their birthplace on social networking sites and 20 million provided their pet's name. Those are the same details that people are often asked to provide to verify their identity when setting up bank accounts.
Think twice before posting vacation updates on an open website, too. Those that do so tell the world - and possibly a burglar - that they're away from home. There's also personal reputation to consider. According to a 2009 study, 70 percent of human-resources professionals have rejected a candidate based on what they found out about the person by searching online.
As part of Data Privacy Day, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel reminded Arkansans to review their privacy settings on social networking sites. Users can generally, with just a few clicks, adjust the type of information that strangers, third-party applications and others can access.
Configure your wireless router to encrypt data.
Wireless Internet access is convenient. But McDaniel said consumers should activate routers' encryption features to better ensure information transmitted on the Internet is scrambled. That would help protect private information such as account logins, passwords and credit card numbers.
Instructions that come with the wireless router indicate how to turn on the encryption feature. Two main types of encryption are available: WiFi Protected Access (WPA) and Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP). The computer must use the same encryption as the router and other equipment. WPA2 is strongest. The hardware identifier and preset password of a router should be changed so a hacker can't use the defaults to try to access a network..
Consumers certainly should use anti-virus and anti-spyware software and a firewall.
Don't assume that public "hot spots" are secure.
Cafe, hotel and airport "hot spots" are convenient, but Arkansas consumers should assume that other people can see anything seen or sent over a public wireless network.
For more information about Internet privacy and online security, visit the Federal Trade Commission's website at www.ftc.gov or visit www.onguardonline.gov, a site that features practical tips from federal government agencies and the technology industry.
The Attorney General also promotes online safety for the state's children and youth through the Office's "Keys to Safety" initiative. More information about "Keys to Safety" and other ways to stay safe online can be found at www.arkansasag.gov or by calling the Attorney General's Office at (501) 682-2341 or (800) 482-8982.
(Source: Arkansas Attorney General's Office)