We have become so trusting when it comes to our personal information. We leave ourselves open to the web, providing it with more alienable information. We don’t take the time needed to understand or know what happens with our data online. Here are some basic questions to ask yourself:
- Who has access to your information and data?
- Do you know if your personal information remains in Canada, or is it being held on a server in a foreign country?
- What are the existing laws governing your personal and even healthcare data?
We create social media accounts, add documents to our online storage and never take care to worry about it. We are simply happy with it working, however what happens when it doesn’t? Do you have a plan in place for the worst case scenario? A very basic item, skipped by most individuals, is the EULA (or End-User License Agreement). Some applications, especially on mobile devices, monitor your online activity; even passing that information to 3rd party companies. Most of us are in too much of a hurry to read the information contained in a EULA because we want to play the latest game, or use the latest mobile app. We acknowledge and accept the EULA without really understanding the implications. With Cyber-Monday and the holidays around the corner we are only scratching the surface on what protections you need in place. There are many ways to protect yourself online and taking time to understand your responsibilities and legal obligations may save you from headaches in the future.