Today wraps up Data Privacy Week here in New York and there are several tips you need to know to keep your private information safe.

WHAT IS DATA PRIVACY WEEK?

This week is delicate in bringing awareness to people and businesses on how best to protect your personal information while online.

HOW MANY CYBER ATTACKS HAPPEN EVERY YEAR?

Cyber thieves are getting more and more active and the amount of cyber attacks and data breeches has increased every year since 2020. In 2023 there were over 168 million records exposed, or stolen by cyber criminals.

HOW CAN I PROTECT MY PRIVATE INFORMATION?

There are several ways you can help protect your personal information.

1. Make sure you have strong passwords. This means using less common words and including numbers and symbols in your password. This makes it harder for hackers to log into your accounts.

2. Turn on your privacy settings. When you are working on a computer, laptop, or phone, make sure to have the privacy settings set on the highest level so you get the most protection.

3. Careful responding to email. Cyber thieves use a trick called phishing where they send you an email that looks legit but when you click the link it allows them to access your information. If you get an email that seems suspicious, don't open it. The best thing to do is contact the person or business that sent the email to make sure it is real.

WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE HAD MY INFORMATION STOLEN?

If you think your information has been stolen, you should contact the Federal Trade Commission at identitlytheft.org or call them at 1-877-438-4338 to report the theft.

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