From fitness to finances, many of us are setting goals to enhance our lives as the new year unfolds. Yet, in our hyper-connected world, one essential facet of our lives is often left off the “needs improvement” list: our online privacy. Just as you would not leave your front door unlocked, it's crucial to secure your digital presence.

To get started, let’s look at the facts:

How do people feel about online privacy?

• 73% of consumers are more concerned about their data privacy now than they were a few years ago.¹
• 9 out of 10 Americans consider their online privacy to be an important issue.
• 85% of global adults want to do more to protect their online privacy.

What role is tech playing in the privacy landscape?

• 1 in 4 Americans are asked to agree to a privacy policy every day.
• 72.6% of iOS apps track private user data.

Are Americans concerned about their data?

• Less than one quarter of American smartphone users feel in control of their personal data online.²
• A survey by Pew Research Center found that 81% of Americans feel they have little or no control over the data that companies collect about them.³

Case in point: The parents of two teens, concerned about the increasing risks of cyber threats and their children’s growing online presence, took decisive steps to enhance their online privacy. This included using two-factor authentication (2FA) for all accounts where applicable, reviewing their kids’ social presence and privacy settings and offering up-to-date best practices to the family for online security. They also made sure they had different passwords for their personal and family accounts. As a result, the family experienced a significant reduction in attempted breaches and gained peace of mind, knowing their sensitive information and that of their children was well protected. By prioritizing online privacy, they not only safeguarded their assets but also maintained their personal and financial security.

A checklist for making 2025 the year of cyber vigilance

Strengthen your accounts

• Refresh your passwords: Strengthen your first line of defense by regularly updating passwords. Try using a phrase, strong and unique combinations of letters, numbers and symbols for each account. Avoid common words and easily guessed information. A password manager can help you keep track securely. Regular updates protect you from potential threats.
• Embrace two-factor authentication: Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification, such as a text message or authentication app. While combing through your accounts to update your passwords, check each of them for 2FA options. Enabling this can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
• Secure your home network: Your home Wi-Fi is a gateway to your personal data. Change the default password on your router. Set up one network for you and another for guests, children and smart devices. This separation reduces the risk of hackers accessing sensitive data through less secure devices.

Refine privacy settings

• Review social presence: When’s the last time you checked in on your social media privacy settings? Social platforms occasionally make changes to their privacy policies, so the New Year is a great time look for any updates and adjust your settings to minimize data exposure.
• Opt out from data brokers: Data brokers collect and aggregate personal information from a variety of sources (i.e., public records, social media, apps, etc.) to create detailed profiles on you. Visit the websites of major data brokers, follow their opt-out procedures and request the removal of your data from their databases.
• Enable “Do Not Track”: Turn on the "Do Not Track" feature in your browser settings to request that websites do not keep tabs on your browsing activity.
• Stay updated: Cyber threats evolve rapidly, and software updates often include critical security patches. Take some time to check that all your devices, apps and operating systems are set to update automatically, keeping you protected against the latest vulnerabilities.

Defend your data

• Backup your data: Backing up your data can sometimes get stuck at the bottom of the to-do list. The start of the year offers a great opportunity to save all those important happenings from the year past to an external hard drive or a secure cloud service – and set a goal for more frequent backups this time around. This ensures you can recover your information in case of a cyberattack or hardware failure.
• Unload apps: Remember that app you downloaded that one time for that one thing? Many of us have a small graveyard of unused apps scattered around our mobile device. Kick of the year by unloading those forgotten apps that might still have access to your data.
• Stay informed: Read up on the latest cyber threats and what to look for. Phishing scams are increasingly sophisticated in all forms, often masquerading as legitimate communications. Be cautious of unsolicited emails (phishing), text messages (smishing) or voice messages (vishing) requesting personal information. Verify the source before clicking on links or downloading attachments.
• Educate and empower: Intentionally set aside time to gather the family and educate members about safe online practices. Ensure everyone has the knowhow to understand the risks and implement preventative action. Knowledge is your best defense against cybercrime.

As we navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape this year, let’s commit to protecting our privacy with the same dedication we apply to other aspects of our lives. By implementing these cyber strategies, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your digital world is secure. Here’s to a year of online safety and security!