Celebrate Data Privacy Day with FlashRouters and VPNs

January 28th marks the day in which people around the world will recognize the importance of Internet privacy and data security. Data Privacy Day is more important than ever with the uncertainty of the future of Net Neutrality and firmware security vulnerabilities like Netgear’s firmware vulnerabilities, which affected thousands of devices.

What is Data Privacy Day?

To those who may not know, Data Privacy Day in the United States and Canada began as an extension of Europe’s Data Protection Day. Data Protection Day is held in honor of the January 28, 1981 signing of Convention 108. This was the first legally binding international treaty dealing with privacy and data protection.

How Do I Get Involved?

You can get involved in Data Privacy Day almost anywhere. This is not limited to your home or work. Individuals can take action in these environments to help create a culture of privacy and support for the holiday’s theme of respecting privacy and safeguarding data.

This year, Data Privacy Day will focus on increasing awareness about the importance of safeguarding user data, both for consumers and businesses, with the theme is “Own Your Privacy.” As the internet permeates more aspects of our lives, it’s important to stay vigilant about protecting personal information. This year, the National Cyber Security Alliance, or NCSA, is calling on people to educate themselves on the privacy settings of their favorite applications.

Additionally, the NCSA provides free information to help Internet users stay safe online. These resources can help you spread the word about managing your privacy and especially the protection of your personal information. According to a recent report, the number of internet-connected devices will reach 29 billion by 2022. As our reliance on internet-connected devices increases, it’s important to say vigilant in protecting them. Luckily, As part of the holiday, the NCSA has provided some tips to improve their online privacy.

Tips for Protecting Data Privacy from the NCSA

In line with this year’s theme of “Own Your Privacy,” the NCSA has released a number of tips to help users better protect their online presence:

Personal info is like money: Value it. Protect it. Personal information, such as your purchase history, IP address, or location, has tremendous value to businesses – just like money. Make informed decisions about whether or not to share your data with certain businesses by considering the amount of personal information they are asking for, and weighing it against the benefits you may receive in return.

Keep tabs on your apps. Many apps ask for access to personal information, such as your geographic location, contacts list, and photo album, before you can use their services. Be thoughtful about who gets that information, and wary of apps that require access to information that is not required or relevant for the services they are offering. Delete unused apps on your internet-connect devices and keep others secure by performing updates.

Manage your privacy settings. Check the privacy and security settings on web services and apps and set them to your comfort level for information sharing. Each device, application, or browser you use will have different features to limit how and with whom you share information. Get started with NCSA’s Manage Your Privacy Settings page.

FlashRouters Wants To Help

Here at FlashRouters, we are a big supporter of Internet privacy and security as well as the entire open source community. With our FlashRouters, individuals gain the ability to run secure virtual private networks on their home wireless routers. This increases the security of their network exponentially, protecting and securing their personal information.

What Are the Best Routers for Privacy Protection?

Take a look at some of our most popular routers to get started on heightening your privacy protection today! Alternatively, take a look at some of our most popular devices below.