To the campus community,
On Thursday, Jan. 28, we celebrate Data Privacy Day, a global effort which highlights the importance of privacy, the protection of personal information, and reminds us that privacy is essential to our work at UC Berkeley. This year, we are encouraging everyone to “Own Your Privacy,” by learning how to protect your online data. The need to protect our personal data has become increasingly important as more and more information about us is collected through our online interactions.
Tips for Owning Your Privacy
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Personal info is valuable. Protect it. Your purchase history, IP address, location, etc., has value – just like money. Make informed decisions about sharing your data with companies. Consider the amount of personal information you are giving up and weigh it against the benefits you may receive.
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Keep tabs on your apps. Many apps ask for access to personal information, like geographic location, contacts list or photo album, before you can use their services. Be wary of apps that require access to information that is not required or relevant for the services they are offering. Keep your apps up to date and delete unused apps on your devices.
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Manage your privacy settings. Check the privacy and security settings on web services and apps and set them to your comfort level for sharing. Each device, application or browser you use will have different ways to control how you share data.
For more information on how to implement these tips visit the UC Berkeley Information Security Office’s Data Privacy Toolkit. If you are interested in learning more about data privacy at UC Berkeley visit the Office of Ethics Privacy website.
Sincerely,
Jenn Stringer, Associate Vice Chancellor for IT and Chief Information Officer
Scott Seaborn, Campus Privacy Officer
This message was sent to UC Berkeley faculty, staff and students.