MSB Blog

Here at Monson Savings Bank we take protecting your privacy and data very seriously. That is why we are shining a light on Data Privacy Day!

Data Privacy Day is an international annual event that aims to raise awareness about privacy and data protection. The goal of this international effort is to encourage both individuals and businesses to respect the privacy of others and protect data in order to create trust regarding personal information and data.  It is observed annually on January 28^th.

History

The United States adopted Data Privacy Day in January of 2008. It originally came from Data Protection Day observed in Europe. Data Protection Day began in Europe to honor the signing of Convention 108 on January 28, 1981. Convention 108 was the very first legally binding international agreement that addressed privacy and data protection. On January 27, 2014 Data Privacy Day was formally adopted by the 113^th United States Congress and January 28 was officially deemed “National Data Privacy Day.”

MSB’s Tips for Protecting Your Privacy

• Update your privacy settings on your computer and cell phone regularly.
• Download a security suite on your computer to protect you when you are browsing the web. You can also use most security suites to scan your computer for viruses and spyware, which you should do regularly. 
• Change your passwords regularly, always use complex passwords that would be hard for a hacker to guess, and do not share your passwords with anyone.
• Do not log into a site that holds your private information, such as online banking, on a public or shared computer.
• Use caution when connecting to public Wi-Fi, verify that the Wi-Fi network belongs to the business it claims to belong to. Hackers set up fake Wi-Fi networks disguised as local places to trick you into connecting to them so they can steal your information.
• Do not open unusual emails, if you do by accident, do not click on any links within the email. Report any such email as spam.
• Cybercriminals will create fake email addresses that look very similar to legitimate ones, always verify the sender.
• Be cautious when giving over personal or financial information over the phone. If someone calls you looking for money or your personal information, it’s probably a scam.
• Do not share your social security number with anyone.
• If you are a business that collects private information about your customers, protect it! Train your employees on privacy, keep information under lock and key, and password protect any and all sensitive information.

Learn more about ways you can protect your private personal information through Monson Savings Bank’s Safety and Security Blog category.