When it comes to reading privacy policies, it always seems too hard. You’re most likely not a lawyer, or don’t have the spare time to read every word of the Terms & Conditions you agree to on a regular basis. And you’re not alone. With statistics like, approximately 30% of consumers in the UK never reading mobile app privacy policies when they download them, and 94% of Australians not reading privacy policies that apply to them, the problem is global and widespread. This guide tell you why you should read privacy policy of every website.
While companies are legally required to detail what they do with the information you give them in their privacy policies, it’s usually a lot more complicated than that. Confusing language, or burying important details in long text are common practice. When you sign up for a service and provide details like your name, email address, date of birth etc. you’re essentially handing over your personal data. These are the details that make you a target for not only personalised ads, but also data mining, censorship and other invasive data privacy practices.
Why you should read privacy policy
Here are 4 reasons why you should read privacy policy of every website:
1 – You’re Likely Paying with Your Data
If you’re not paying for something with actual money, then how are you paying for it? You’re most likely paying for it with your personal data. Free services are never truly “free” and shouldn’t be approached with caution. If you’re keen to try a free service, it’s recommended that you take the time to comb through their privacy policy and be cautious of giving too many personal details away.
2 – They Could Be Planning on Selling Your Data
When it comes to your personal data, it’s not only your identity, it’s a marketing tool that’s worth money. When you’re using a website, you need to determine if the company plans on selling your data or using it. Are they just asking for the basics for account creation or billing? Or are they data tracking or logging your other private data?
3 – They Could Be Storing Your Personal Data for Years
Some companies will store your personal data for a few months while others will store it for years. Reviewing the privacy policy will give you an indication of how long they intend to store your data; if you’re not comfortable with the timeframe then you may need to skip it.
4 – They May Be Lacking Security Measures
If a company is storing your personal data, you want to know that they’re storing it securely. The privacy policy will identify if they provide any security to protect your personal information. “Free services” generally don’t spend the extra money to keep the measures in place, whereas more credible companies take the extra measures to protect their customers with things like two-factor authentication for password protection etc.
You have a right to privacy which companies should be respecting. Security awareness is so important to protecting your data online, so don’t learn your lesson the hard way and risk your personal data privacy.
If you’re keen to get a detailed understanding of how to protect your data online then Privci is the way to go. It’s a Google Chrome extension that helps you easily and quickly review privacy policies, get info about data breaches, learn best practices when it comes to your online data, and so much more.
Click here to Install from Chrome Store
If your enjoy reading this article why not share with others!
Divine Chana C. Senior Analyst, Privci.io
