Confidentiality and Privacy Explained: Protecting Your Data in the Digital Age

By Sara Nguyen

Now that we interact with our banks, our doctors, our accountants, our schools and even our e-commerce online, our focus on the security of our private information gets more important. Let’s pause and think about what we’re protecting: our digital confidentiality and our digital privacy.

These can be confusing terms. We’ll tell you about the differences, your responsibilities and what you can do to further protect yourself.

First, protect yourself with Frontier’s security software

When you have Frontier internet service, you can pair it with a full suite of security solutions to stay safe online. Protect your home Wi-Fi connection as well as your devices, your passwords, your identity and your messages, whether you’re at home or away. Start smart—and let’s talk about your security.

Understanding digital confidentiality vs privacy

What is digital confidentiality?

Digital confidentiality refers to cyber security and focuses on an organization’s responsibility to protect your information online.

For example, let’s say you order flowers online. You need to enter your credit card information and delivery address to complete the transaction. Digital confidentiality—cyber security—is all about the ways that the online flower shop keeps your personal data secure. You want to make sure you work with reputable vendors and check the cyber security policies of organizations and businesses when you give them your data.

What is digital privacy?

Digital privacy refers to an individual’s right to control and protect their personal information online. Privacy in the digital age includes how data is shared and with whom.

For example, you can make sure you use digital privacy controls available to you on the different apps and websites as well as password protection software. And you can change your social media profile from public to private. This will give you more control over who sees your posts, providing you with more privacy.

How can we protect ourselves in the digital age?

You can do a lot to stay safe online. Here are some strategies to protect your data and online privacy:

• Decide your personal privacy level. Check the privacy settings of your social media profiles and decide if you want to have a public or private profile. Either way, you’ll want to avoid sharing personal information on your profiles.
• Use secure connections. Check the website URL of the sites you visit. Make sure the web address is accurate and secure with an HTTPS connection.
• Educate yourself on common scams. Online threats like phishing scams rely on people not knowing a scam when they see one. Staying aware of the latest trends in online scams can help you avoid falling into a trap.
• Use strong passwords. Make sure every account has a unique and complex password. If your password gets leaked, hackers won’t be able to reuse it on your other accounts. It’s a hassle to keep track of several passwords though. You may want a password manager to store your login credentials securely.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). 2FA makes a person confirm their identity twice. A common scenario is someone entering a correct password and then having a confirmation code sent to a verified phone number. After inserting the code, the person is granted access. This prevents account theft if someone manages to obtain your password.
• Turn on a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN is an absolute must, especially if your phone connects to public Wi-Fi frequently. Public networks are often unprotected, and it’s easier for hackers to get information from people on the same network. A VPN creates an encrypted connection that will keep out prying eyes.
• Invest in identity protection. Continuously monitoring your credit reports for fraud takes effort. Identity protection can do the work for you and send fraud alerts. If your accounts have been hacked, identity protection can help you recover your losses.

Frontier Fiber is built for the way you live today—and tomorrow

If you’re still on the lookout for the right ultrafast internet connection for streaming, gaming, working from home and running your smart home—all with enough bandwidth for everyone—find out about Frontier Fiber. Frontier Fiber is available in select areas—check here to see when it’s available at your address. And make sure to protect your identity online with Frontier’s Total Shield security services.

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