National Cyber Security Alliance Counts Down to Data Privacy Day on January 28

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), the nation's leading nonprofit public-private partnership promoting the safe and secure use of the Internet, will mark the eighth annual Data Privacy Day on January 28 with a renewed emphasis on creating a culture of privacy to help consumers better understand how to protect their personal information and encourage businesses to be more transparent about how they collect and use consumer data.  

"With so many of our day-to-day activities carried out online, Data Privacy Day seeks to inspire everyone to manage their digital lives with concrete, simple and actionable steps," said Michael Kaiser, NCSA's Executive Director. "NCSA also urges businesses to make it easier for consumers to know what information about them is being collected and how it is being used. Any options provided to consumers to control their personal data should be easily applicable and effective. Underlying all privacy practices by business and individuals is a strong cybersecurity posture that safeguards data and personal information."

NCSA offers a library of consumer-friendly resources designed to educate the public about protecting their privacy. Here's a snapshot of what is available:

• Get your New Year off to a safe and secure start by learning and following these six privacy protection practices http://dprivacyd.info/1Fi5Fse.
• Conduct your own "privacy checkup" at the online resource page, a one-stop shop for trouble-free tips created to update your privacy/security settings. 
• Are you a "privacy pro"? Or do you need to brush up on how to better protect your online information? Take the NCSA and SpiderOak My Privacy IQ quiz http://myprivacyiq.com/.
• Inspired to learn more? Consider joining NCSA for a weekly series of lively, informative Twitter chats. The first chat takes place on January 7 at 3:00-4:00pm EST. Visit http://www.staysafeonline.org/about-us/events/ for details.
• Visit http://www.staysafeonline.org/data-privacy-day/ for a wide range of additional materials including free downloadable collateral, tips, event ideas, resources for families, businesses and educators and more.

"It's never too soon to learn more and take action. As consumers become increasingly concerned about their online privacy, Data Privacy Day is a terrific opportunity for NCSA, Ghostery and other organizations to spread awareness about how individuals can best protect their most vital information," said Jib Hunt, Senior Director of Brand Marketing for Ghostery, a leading sponsor of Data Privacy Day. "By devoting a day to data privacy, we can help shed light on this critical issue."

"While recent public breaches illuminate the importance of data privacy, there are thousands of people's information being wrongfully stolen every day that we don't hear about, or even know about," said Andrew Lee, CEO of ESET North America and Co-Chair of the San Diego Cyber Center of Excellence. "In an increasingly digitized society, we need to continue to educate the public and bring awareness to this very important topic, and Data Privacy Day is one of the ways we can have this conversation on a national scale."

So that critical information about data protection is delivered to mainstream audiences, NCSA has teamed with various groups to host online privacy events ‒ open to the general public ‒ in several cities nationwide. Events taking place on Data Privacy Day include:

• Data Privacy Day Atlanta: Health Privacy in a Fully Connected World (Academy of Medicine at Georgia Tech, Atlanta, Ga., 1:00-5:00pm EST). NCSA and the Georgia Institute of Technology's Scheller College of Business and School of Interactive Computing will hold an interactive, lively and revealing conversation with leading privacy experts to explore the future of health privacy and the pioneering technologies that are changing the game. For more information and to register, please visit http://dpd15.eventbrite.com/.
• Data Privacy Day San Francisco - Open Forum: Data Privacy Trends 2015 (San Francisco, Ca. Registration/reception begins at 5:30pm PST). Presented by the Churchill Club, TRUSTe and NCSA, this open forum will provide candid, up-to-the-minute views from an impressive panel of leading thinkers about what matters most in data privacy for the year ahead. For more information and to register, please visit http://transition.churchillclub.org/eventDetail.jsp?EVT_ID=1029.
• Data Privacy Day San Diego – The Future of IoT and Privacy (San Diego, Ca., 9:00am–6:00pm PST). Join the Lares Institute, Morrison & Foerster and the NCSA for a day-long conversation, which will bring together privacy luminaries to talk about fundamental issues facing consumers and business, including in-depth panel discussions on privacy, the Internet of Things (IoT) and many other critical topics. Speakers will include chief privacy officers from eBay, ADT and Farmers Insurance and many other privacy thought leaders. Lunch will be provided and a networking cocktail hour will follow the event. For more information and to register, please visit http://www.mofo.com/resources/events/2015/01/150128dataprivacysandiego. 
• Cyber Senior video. Cyber Senior Documentary Screening hosted by AT&T (Delray Beach, FL, 10:00 a.m.‒ 12:00 p.m. EST). To celebrate Data Privacy Day and the North American VOD and home DVD release of the critically acclaimed film, Cyber-Seniors, a free theater screening will be held at the Movies of Delray Theater, 7421 West Atlantic Ave. Delray Beach. Admission is by RSVP only, with snacks to be provided and a chance to win great prizes upon entry to the film. For more information and to RSVP, please contact [email protected] or visit www.cyberseniorsdocumentary.com .
• Kick Starting a Privacy Program (Virtual; 12:00pm–1:00pm EST). This webinar will be hosted by PRIVACY REF in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches. Led by Bob Siegel, the founder and CEO of PRIVACY REF, the webinar will advise participants on how to start a privacy program as well as further develop it and continue with its maintenance. It will answer questions about specific aspects of a privacy program and policies. For more information and to register, please visit http://palmbeaches.chambermaster.com/events/details/kick-starting-privacy-program-part-of-the-knowledge-series-3793.  

Businesses can also get involved by becoming a Data Privacy Day Champion – an initiative that provides companies and organizations the opportunity to officially show their support and commitment to Data Privacy Day's basic tenet: "Respecting Privacy, Safeguarding Data and Enabling Trust." Champions can include companies of any size, educational institutions, non-profit organizations and government entities. Registering as a Champion is easy and does not require any financial support. Please visit NCSA's Data Privacy Day Champions page to submit registration and learn more. A full list of Data Privacy Day's current Champions, which now number 143, can be accessed here. In addition, a variety business-focused events, webinars and informational "happy hours" will take place nationally. Visit http://www.staysafeonline.org/data-privacy-day/events/ for a complete listing.

About Data Privacy Day
Led by the National Cyber Security Alliance, Data Privacy Day began in the United States and Canada in January 2008 as an extension of the Data Protection Day celebration in Europe. The Day commemorates the 1981 signing of Convention 108 – the first legally binding international treaty dealing with privacy and data protection. On January 27, 2014, the 113th U.S. Congress adopted S. Res. 337, a nonbinding resolution expressing support for the designation of January 28 as "National Data Privacy Day." Ghostery is the Leading Sponsor of Data Privacy Day while ESET and Intel are Contributing Sponsors. Participating Sponsors are Lockheed Martin and Morrison & Foerster. Small Business Sponsors include the Churchill Club, the Georgia Tech School of Interactive Computing and Scheller College of Business, PRIVACY REF, PRIVATE WiFi and Reputation.com. Follow DPD on Twitter and Facebook. The official hashtag of DPD is #DPD15.

About The National Cyber Security Alliance
The National Cyber Security Alliance is a non-profit organization. Through collaboration with the government, corporate, non-profit and academic sectors, the mission of the NCSA is to educate and empower a digital citizenry to use the Internet securely and safely protecting themselves and the technology they use and the digital assets we all share. NCSA board members include: ADP, AT&T, Bank of America, Comcast Corporation, EMC Corporation, ESET, Facebook, Google, Intel, McAfee, Microsoft, Raytheon, Symantec, Verizon and Visa. Visit www.staysafeonline.org for more information and join us on Facebook.

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SOURCE National Cyber Security Alliance

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