Online Privacy vs. Security: What’s the Difference?

What’s the Difference Between Security and Privacy?

Online security and privacy can each impact your online experience, and it’s a good idea to have both. But it’s also important to understand the difference between the two and how they work together. Privacy and security frequently overlap when it comes to sensitive information, and both can help you protect yourself.

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What is Privacy?

The word privacy means “free from intrusion or interference.” When something is private, it has the right to be left alone without being surveilled. Data privacy refers to an individual’s right to control how their personal information and data is collected, used, and stored. Privacy policies are often put in place to protect identifying information and make sure that it’s used responsibly. Businesses and organizations are legally required to be open about the type of data the collect, the purpose of the collection, and how that data will be used. Users have a right to accept the terms of the organization and control what information you share.

As technology expands and more information is digitized, more data will inevitably be collected and stored by businesses and organizations. This identifying data typically includes:

• Name
• Birthdate
• Address
• Phone number
• Financial details
• Information about personal activities and health

This data can be valuable to cyber criminals who would attempt to access it to commit fraud and identity theft. Privacy is vital to keeping this information safe from those who would seek to exploit it.

What is Security?

When something is considered secure, it’s considered protected from threats of danger and harm. The word “security” typically goes hand in hand with “safety.” Where digital information is concerned, cybersecurity is the protection of data and identifying or sensitive information against a data breach or a leak. This is the act of keeping your information safe and your data secure, so that it as not accessed by an unauthorized individual or organization who might seek to do harm.

Some examples of online security methods and tools include:

• Firewalls
• Security software
• Two-factor authentication

Cybercrime evolves quickly, as hackers constantly seek new security weakness to exploit. The more reliant we are on technology, the more sophisticated criminals will become as they attempt to access sensitive information. This makes security a critical component for keeping information private and users safe.

How Do Privacy and Security Work Together?

Think about online shopping as an example of both privacy and security at work. When you start an account with a company, you enter in identifying information like your name, address, and credit card details, expecting that the company will not share that information with anyone else. That’s privacy. The company doesn’t want to lose any customers or appear untrustworthy and takes steps to keep outsiders from accessing its customers’ information, as well as its own proprietary data. That’s security.

When both privacy and security are working as they should, your personal information is safe and protected. In some instances, a company may update its privacy disclosures, and indicate that it will be selling some of your information to a third party. While your data is still secure, it can be viewed by more than one set of eyes, and may be used in ways you didn’t anticipate, which may make some people feel uncomfortable. In instances where privacy or security are compromised, a company’s databases are compromised, and your personal information has been accessed by criminals and can be used for cyber fraud.

It’s important to keep this in mind when entering your personal information online and take steps to protect yourself. One tip is to use a virtual private network, or VPN, which encrypts the data you send or receive on any device, providing a secure channel for any sensitive data to pass through. Some examples: VPNs can block websites and ISPs from tracking your browser history, keeping your online sessions private; they can also protect you from network “eavesdroppers.”

Other Tips for Improving Online Privacy and Security

You should always take care before sharing personal information anywhere online, and vet any entities you may trust for their security practices. Ultimately, what an organization does with your data is largely beyond your control, but there are a few key practices you can take up to protect your private data online:

• Limit the amount of personal information that you share on social media; you can also set boundaries with your friends and loved ones regarding what they may share about you
• Never share your social security number, if possible
• Use a security app like Microsoft Defender
• Use a VPN when using Wi-Fi networks outside your home
• Read privacy policies before you agree to them

As more businesses go online, be smart about who you choose to share your information with.