There was a time in Nigeria when just a few people knew your personal information. Today, this is no longer the case, as it appears that strangers everywhere are aware of your identity. You answer a call from an unfamiliar number, and the individual greets you by name and starts discussing some of your private information that only you know. It makes you wonder, how did these people gain access to my private information? When people hear the phrase “data,” they often assume it is something related to the internet subscription or data bundles purchased from vendors to surf web pages or something used by tech experts, governments, and businesses. “Data” includes your name, phone number, email, address, income, family information, browser history, and other personally identifiable information (PII). A vast amount of your data is being collected, stored, and used by many companies without your awareness.
Some years back, I answered a call from an unknown number, and the person on the other end greeted me by my first name and claimed to know some personal information that is known to me. That time, I assumed it was a mistake; however, that was not a mistake at all. Your information is out there because we share it in bits and pieces, often without thinking. We register on different websites for rewards and several other reasons. We click on links that are shared on our WhatsApp and social media accounts without scrutinizing whether they are phishing for our data. We also download several unknown applications and grant these apps permissions that are unrelated to the functioning of the application. Each time we do any of these, we give a little more of ourselves.
The actual issue, however, is what follows. The data collected does not just sit unused in a database. It is often sold, sometimes lawfully and other times illegally. Businesses also distribute it to marketing firms, partners, and anyone who is prepared to pay. One of the concerning challenges with these collected data is how carelessly they are being handled. In 2019, approximately 500 million Facebook users’ personal information, including phone numbers, complete names, and email addresses, was leaked online due to an unsecured database. Even well-intentioned businesses sometimes gather considerably more data than is required, just in case it proves useful later.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) have both attempted to address the issue. They’ve published standards, shut down unauthorized activities, and punished corporations that mishandled consumer data. This legislation has been effective, but more can still be done to make these laws effective. New data brokers appear more quickly than the government agencies can keep up with them, and more can still be done on the enforcement of the existing laws.
The safety of our data begins with us. Before filling out a form, consider why you need to provide that information, and before you click on allowing that permission on your computer and phones, ask yourself, does this application or software need this permission to run? You should also ensure you are checking the privacy section of every app and website to be sure you know how they intend to use your data. Cybersecurity is more than simply hackers and big data breaches; it begins with the little piece of your data that is being collected by various apps and websites that you visit daily.
. Adesola, Security+ Security Analyst Email: yemiadesola@gmail.com
