Don't let Students become data mine for cyber criminals

 Don't let Students become data mine for Cyber Criminals

● Meaning of Data privacy:

Data Privacy refers to the protection of crucial information about an individual's location, likes and dislikes, family information etc, on the internet.

●  The Need: 

In the modern times the Technology has been developing exponentially. Tremendous amount of data is being generated everyday, which is referred as Big Data. A new threat of data stealing and misuse has risen. Here data Privacy comes as a saviour. 

● Do Students need Privacy?

One may think, "what data Privacy has to do with students, or even adolescents, while student in developed countries do have access to gadgets and phones, children in other countries do not have. It is important to note that they also have requirement of data privacy.

● Why do they require? 

Many schools in developed countries have gadgets for each student. Their test and regular examinations take place on these devices. While this is efficient for the school. Their data can be misused. 

● How can student data be misused?

Data selling: 

The institution generally monitors the performance of the student, which is necessary. But they may sell it to someone else who has no links with the institution like a private coaching center, who may use it to identify well performing students and approach them. 

Online presence of students on social media:

Almost every student has a social media account on applications like, Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat. While using such applications is fine, but they may share their personal data unknowingly through 3rd party website advertisements, or even chatting with an unknown person. 

Targetted Advertisments: Companies use the data of students to show them inappropriate and manipulative ads.

Identity Thefts: Fake accounts may be created in order to impersonate them or access their personal information.

Privacy Violations: Accessing personal information without concent.

Academic Discriminations: Universities may tract the online activity of certain individuals to make judgements about their character for 

● How to stay protected?

Students should not share their images or personal information of social media. They should enquire if their academic data is misused by the institution, and keep them under account.

Privacy settings: using privacy settings of social media applications to control who can see their posts and images.

Geolocation tagging: Disabling the geolocation tagging on social media so that people may not get to know the location.

Being mindful of posts: Being mindful of what is being posted.

● Conclusion and Summary: 

Students of this time has access to smart phones at a very early age, their data may be misused if they are not trained to handle it. It is necessary for them to avoid sharing personal data.