About the Author: Stephanie Britt is a UCLA alum and CIPP/US-certified privacy rights advocate.

 

Modern consumers live in their phones. But how do you balance the ease of messaging technology with its known risks to personal privacy?

In response to security risks and privacy concerns, many messaging apps have implemented end-to-end encryption to promote trust among their users. However, the degree of privacy users get still varies from app-to-app depending on what information is encrypted and the app’s general design.

 

2016 was a record-breaking year for data breaches in the United States. An estimated 1,093 companies and government agencies were breached, exposing everything from passwords to Social Security numbers. As we enter 2017, data privacy begins to play a major role in building trust between businesses and consumers. Data security policies are crucial to companies who value the protection of their data and the privacy of their clients' information.

Ridesharing services have become a very popular alternative to traditional taxis, and make it easy to get home safely after a big night out.  But, how much do you know about what information the rideshare software is collecting?  Here are some quick tips for you to keep your information safe during the holiday season and all year round:

Did you receive a gift card during the holiday season?  If so, it’s important that you understand your rights.  While most gift cards cannot be redeemed for cash, federal law does provide you with some consumer protections.  Many states offer you additional rights. 

Federal law provides the following consumer protections: