Consumers around the world are concerned about how both companies and their governments are treating their personal data, and some are doing something about it.
According to the results of a survey from Malwarebytes released Wednesday, 89% of people are concerned that corporations are inappropriately accessing and using their data, while 72% are worried that the government is doing the same thing. The security software company's pulse survey polled 1,500 readers of its newsletter from across the globe between March 17 and 27 of this year.
The results come on the heels of a handful of recent incidents that have spotlighted just how much personal consumer data is being collected and stored by both companies and the government, and the security and privacy concerns related to that.
23andMe's Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing in March called into question what could happen to its massive collection of private consumer data, including its millions of genetic samples and testing reports.
Meanwhile, a coalition of labor groups led by the American Federation of Teachers filed a lawsuit in February claiming that President Donald Trump's administration violated federal privacy laws when it gave Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to systems with personal information of of millions of Americans without their consent.
In a 2-1 vote, a federal appeals court put a stop to an injunction that had blocked Musk and DOGE from accessing Americans' private data at the Treasury and Education departments and the Office of Personnel Management. It also set an expedited schedule for the appeal and will hear oral arguments on May 5.
The survey also found that the rise of artificial intelligence technologies is also making consumers leery, with 89% of those polled saying they're concerned about their data being used by AI without their consent.
In the face of those worries, some of those surveyed said they're doing what they can to protect their data and claw back some of their digital privacy. More than 40% of those polled said they have stopped using either TikTok, Instagram or X, while 26% said they stopped using a fertility or period tracking app.
In addition, 75% of those surveyed said they "opt out of data collection" when possible, and 23% said they've gone as far as using a data removal service to remove their easily accessed personal data from the internet.
While those steps don't cover everything, they can be a great start. If you're concerned about data privacy, read on for some more tips for protecting your data.
How to keep your private data private
Set good passwords. Long, random and unique passwords are best. Don't be tempted to recycle an old one, even if it's great. Yes, that can be a lot to deal with, but that's where password managers come in. They'll do the remembering for you.
Turn on two-factor authentication. This technique requires using a second identifier, like your fingerprint, a code via an app notification or a physical key in addition to your password. This will go a long way toward protecting you if your password becomes compromised.
Think before you share. Many people don't think twice before handing over their birth date or mailing address when they sign up for an online account or a store's rewards program, but you should. That's because you just never know where it might end up. It could be stolen in a data breach or sold to data brokers that could theoretically make it available to anyone.
This also goes for artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT. Anything you enter into an AI model becomes part of the AI, and you're not going to get it back. It's best to keep your personal details out of them.
Shop online as a guest. It may take a few more minutes to type in your shipping and payment information each time, but it'll keep that information from being saved in company systems. When you're done with an online service, ask that your account and related data be permanently deleted, if possible. Data that no longer exists can't be stolen or sold.
Think about a VPN. Most websites, especially those that deal with financial or personal information, are now encrypted, security experts aren't as wild about recommending the everyday use of virtual private networks for the average person. But, they can be useful for people who are away from their usual networks. However, you'll want to be cautious when choosing one. Free VPNs are generally a bad idea because they're more likely to use their customers' data to make money.
Keep an eye on your accounts. Monitor your bank and credit accounts regularly to catch potentially fraudulent charges. If you don't expect to be applying for credit anytime soon, freeze your credit reports. If a company offers you free credit monitoring because of a data breach or for any other reason, sign up for it.
Lock down your social media accounts. Make sure the only "friends" you're sharing your information with are your actual friends. Even then, be careful what you disclose. Seemly innocuous bits of information like the make and model of your first car or the elementary school you attended could be used to hack into your accounts down the road, because those facts are often used in security checks.
Audit your logins and apps. Using Facebook or Google to automatically log in to your apps and websites gives them access to more of your data. Think twice before you do it. Not using an app anymore? Delete it and take away its access to the data you agreed to share when you first downloaded it.
Update everything. This doesn't just apply to your operating systems and antivirus software. Your router, apps and all of those smart devices also need to be up to date. Patches to fix bugs and security problems can't help you if you don't install them. If you don't know how to update your router, call your ISP or check online.