Data care is the personal responsibility we all have for taking care of our own digital information, managing our own cybersecurity and privacy needs.
Data care has a lot in common with health care: the protection of health via the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease and injury throughout people’s lives. Even as we have an entire system of health and medical support, our personal responsibility is to eat a healthy diet, get plenty of exercise, and refrain from smoking. The medical system can’t protect us if we don’t do our part.
Data care’s the same way. Each of us must do our part.
- Protect our data, along with the computers and smartphones we use.
- Defend against identity theft.
- Guard against online bank fraud and financial scams.
- Protect the digital photos on our smartphone lest our phone be stolen.
- Shield our children and family from being spied on by hackers who have taken control of our computer.
- Protect our files from the cybercriminals who want to lock (encrypt) them unless we pay a ransom.
- Insulate ourselves from all the misinformation and disinformation attacks designed to make one question what’s really going on.
All the anti-virus programs and firewalls and spam filters in the world won’t protect us if we don’t do our part:
- Freezing our credit.
- Using 2FA / MFA on sensitive accounts.
- Being careful of clicking on email links and attachments.
- Keeping software up to date.
- Backing up our critical and important files.
These are some of the things we must do to care for our data.
Data care also means we have to protect the personal information we have of others. Just as we want people to protect our information, we have an ethical / moral responsibility to protect theirs. Think of this like not smoking indoors near your friends. We’re all in it together.
Securing your home and family / SecureTheVillage Webinars
- Personal CyberSecurity: The Essentials w/Dr. Steve Krantz: It’s dangerous in cyberspace and some feel helpless in the face of computer viruses, email scams, hacking and the like. Dr. Steve Krantz presents clear guidance in how you can protect yourself, including your PC, Mac and smartphone. Dr. Krantz’ talk to CyberSeniors, March 11, 2022
- Assisting the Victims of Cybercrime Stacey Wright, Cybercrime Support Network, May 7, 2021
- Securing Your Home & Family (Part 1), Dr. Steve Krantz, May 14, 2020
- Securing Your Home and Family (Part 2), Dr. Steve Krantz, June 11, 2020
From Our Friends
Cybercrime Support Network. Fight Cybercrime.
- Tell Us How You Have Been Affected By Cybercrime: Give us a little information about how you were affected and we will guide you to the appropriate resources.
- Fight Cybercrime Blog
- Resources: Explore helpful tips, guides, and resources created and curated by the Cyber Readiness Institute team and our Champions.
- Staying healthy and cyber secure with Telehealth
Stop. Think. Connect: Keeping the web a safer place for everyone
Helping Our Kids
- Outsmart Cyberthreats. Learn how to take good care of your data. BONUS: Discover a cool new career in cybersecurity! From the National Cryptologic Foundation.
- Safe Online Surfing from the FBI. Advice for teachers and their students, Grades 3 – 8.
- Help students discover their pathways into Cybersecurity and STEM!, start engineering
Electronic Frontier Foundation: The leading nonprofit defending digital privacy, free speech, and innovation.
- Privacy Badger is an install-and-forget browser add-on that stops advertisers and trackers from secretly tracking where you go and what pages you look at on the web.
- Keeping Your Smart Home Secure & Private
- Surveillance Self-Defense (SSD) is EFF’s online guide to defending yourself and your friends from surveillance by using secure technology and developing careful practices.
Other Data Care, Cybersecurity, and Privacy Resources
- Online Security Tips for Protecting Your Retirement Account, Department of Labor
- Mobile Device Best Practices: National Security Agency
- Have I Been Pwned: Check if your email or phone is in a data breach
Other Allies in Data Care, Cybersecurity, and Privacy
- ProPublica: Investigative Journalism in the Public Interest
- Consumer Reports: Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit member organization that works side by side with consumers for truth, transparency, and fairness in the marketplace.
- AARP: AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people to choose how they live as they age.
- Cyber-Seniors: Cyber-Seniors provides FREE technology support and training for senior citizens.
Privacy Recommendations From Our Recent Webinar
Roe v Wade: Critical Implications for Our Personal Privacy
- From Marc Hurwitz
- Best email encryption: protonmail
- Best private messaging app: Signal
- Best No-Log VPN: Hidemyass.com; VPN Unlimited
- iPhone Privacy: settings–>privacy–>location services–>system services–>significant locations, off–>clear
