Privacy vs. Security: Exploring the Differences & Relationship

Learn how Adaptive Multi-Factor Authentication combats data breaches, weak passwords, and phishing attacks.

Updated: 08/29/2024 - 1:41

Time to read: 6 minutes

Both security and data privacy are important in the physical and digital worlds. Data privacy is the right to control how your personal information is viewed and used, while security is the protection against threats through the application of safeguards. In the digital world, security generally refers to the protection against unauthorized access of data, often against hackers or cyber criminals. Data privacy involves your rights to manage, access, and view your personal information. Both are equally important aspects of cyber safety. You have data privacy rights and should take measures to secure your personal information and data within the digital environment.

Security & Data Privacy Explained

Security and data privacy often overlap; however, they do pertain to two different things. For example, when you download a new app on your smartphone, you are often asked to agree to a privacy policy. This policy will detail what personal information the app is going to collect and how it will be used. It is up to you to decide if you agree to the terms or not. This pertains to your data privacy rights. With security, the goal is to safeguard your data and information, often through cybersecurity products and measures. Cybersecurity deals with deflecting unauthorized access to your data through leaks or breaches using security technologies and tools.

Definition of Privacy/Data Privacy

Privacy is the right to be free from interference or intrusion — the ability to be left alone without being watched. In the context of data, data privacy refers to the right to have control over how your personal information is collected, stored, and used. Privacy policies are in place to give users/data subjects more control over how their personal information is used. Organizations are required to be transparent about what forms of data they intend to collect, the purpose of the data collection, and where and with whom it is to be shared.

Importance of Privacy and Data Protection

Privacy is one of the most important consumer protection issues as technology continues to expand, more information is digitalized, and more measures exist to collect data. Businesses and apps often store data (most of the time personal information) such as the following:

Name
Birthdate
Address
Email
Phone number
Credit card or bank details
Information on health and activities

This data can be vulnerable to cybercriminals for the purposes of identity theft. The FTC reported receiving fraud reports from 2.6 million consumers in 2024. The most commonly reported scams were those relating to identity fraud. Losses to government imposter scams increased $171 million from 2023 to a total of $789 million in 2024.

Security defined

Security involves measures taken to be protected from danger, threat, or harm. It often refers to safety. In the digital world, cybersecurity is typically the protection of data and sensitive information against potential breaches or leaks, often at the hands of cybercriminals or hackers. Security is the act of keeping your private information and data secure, and ensuring it is not accessed by unauthorized sources. Cybersecurity can involve a number of tools and methods, including:

Firewalls
Network limitations
Security software
User authentication
Internal security measures

Need for security

A new cyber attack starts every 40 seconds. Cybercrime is evolving at rapid rates, costing businesses and individuals billions of dollars and countless hours of hassles. The more advanced technology gets, the more reliant we are on it, and the more sophisticated cybercriminals become to attempt to access secure information. This makes security practices even more important. Security measures are necessary to protect sensitive data and personal information that is shared online and elsewhere. Our dependence and use of technology can make us vulnerable. Security is a vital means for keeping users safe and our information private.

Security vs. Data Protection

The main difference between data privacy and Security is that Data Privacy involves how your data is used and controlled, while security protects this data. Security can exist without data privacy, but the reverse is not true. Computer security and data privacy are both equally important for managing personal and sensitive information and data. In general, data privacy refers to details about you directly and how you wish to share them. Security keeps you safe from potential threats. Cybersecurity, therefore, involves securing data from unauthorized use or access. In terms of data, data privacy refers directly to how companies are able to collect, manage, store, and control the use of data that you provide.. While different, security and privacy both need to be maintained.

Laws regarding information privacy & security compliance

There are several security, data protection and privacy compliance laws that exist to protect your data and personal information. Companies that are found to be non-compliant face large fines, suspension of business actions, and even potential prison terms. Privacy laws seek to manage sensitive information, while security compliance laws work to protect data.

In the United States, more than 100 federal and state laws exist to protect data of US residents. Additionally, new state-specific privacy laws are constantly emerging. Here are some examples:

Gramm Leach Bliley Act (GLBA): protects information in the hands of financial industries
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA): protects credit information
Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): protects information in the hands of healthcare providers
Family Educational Right and Privacy Act (FERPA): protects student records in the hands of educational agencies and institutions, and provides access to authorized students and parents
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA): gives consumers more control over the personal information that businesses collect about them

Tips for protecting your privacy & security

To help keep your information secure, you should protect your privacy and use security measures. Follow these tips:

Limit your social media presence and the data you share online.
Read the organization’s privacy policy in its entirety before agreeing and accepting the terms.
Keep your social security number (SSN) secure, and avoid distributing it when possible.
Use multifactor authentication to log in to secure sites.
Install and use security software.
Use a VPN when on public WiFi.
Ensure your router is secure, and use a firewall.
Consider identity theft protection services.
Use different passwords for different sites and applications. Make each password complex, or consider a passphrase instead.

Once your data is online, it is no longer in your direct control. Be careful whom you share this information with. Be sure that you know exactly what they are collecting from you, how they intend to secure and protect your personal information, and whom they are going to share this data with. Being informed and aware can help protect both your privacy and security.