Privacy vs. Security: Exploring the Differences & Relationship
Both security and privacy are important in the physical and digital worlds. Privacy is the right to control how your information is viewed and used, while security is protection against threats or danger. In the digital world, security generally refers to the unauthorised access of data, often involving protection against hackers or cyber criminals. Privacy involves your right to manage your personal information, and security is the protection of this information. Both are equally important aspects of cyber safety. You have privacy rights and should take measures to secure your personal information and data within the digital environment.
Security & privacy explained
Computer security and privacy often overlap; however, they do pertain to two different things. Privacy is your personal information and how you allow it to be accessed and viewed. In contrast, security is the protection of this data and information. When you download a new app on your smartphone, you are often asked to agree to a privacy policy. This policy will detail what 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. With security, the goal is to safeguard your data and information, often through cybersecurity products and measures. Cybersecurity deals with deflecting unauthorised access to your data through leaks or breaches using security technologies and tools.
Definition of privacy
Privacy, in short, is the right to be free from interference or intrusion — the ability to be left alone without being watched. Information privacy refers to the right to have control over how your personal information and data are collected, stored, and used. Privacy policies are in place to protect sensitive information and safeguard your identity. Privacy is often about using sensitive information responsibly. Organisations 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. As the user, you have to accept these terms and conditions; therefore, you have the right to control your shared information.
Importance of data privacy
Privacy is one of the most important consumer protection issues as technology continues to expand, more information is digitalised, and more measures exist to collect data. Businesses and apps often store data, such as this information:
- Name
- Birthdate
- Address
- 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. Nearly 5 million fraud and identity theft reports were received by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 2020, and close to half of all American adults were victims of financial identity theft. Information privacy is vital to keeping users safe from hackers and cybercrime involving the theft of personal information.
Security defined
Security involves measures