Five best practices for consumers to protect their personal data in the new world of AI

Australians are more focused, it can be argued, on how their data is used by large organisations across all sectors of the economy, particularly when artificial intelligence is involved. In our recent Cohesity consumer survey, we found that 9 out of 10 consumers are concerned that AI will impact how companies keep customer data secure. As AI continues to be deployed in organisations, how can consumers play their role in ensuring their data is secure and be an active participant in shaping their data security ecosystem?

Here are five best practices for consumers to consider when dealing with their personal data:

1.  Be conscious and deliberate about the data you're sharing: Check what data is collected and the use cases that the data will be put to, including if it is being shared with third parties.  Always ask yourself is the data requested necessary and remember that any data shared now could be used by a vendor in a different way in the future

2.  Enable two-factor authentication: Wherever possible, enable two-factor authentication or ensure this is provided by the organisation collecting your data. This provides an additional layer of security, even if your password is compromised.
 
3.  Use strong, unique passwords: Create complex and unique passwords for each account, especially if the service does not support two-factor authentication. A password manager can help you store and manage them securely.
 
4.  Check privacy settings and examine changes to terms of service: Regularly check the privacy settings of the online services you're subscribed to, sometimes vendors change settings to be more open as they release updates.
 
5.  Stay informed: Stay updated with the latest cybersecurity and AI developments. Knowledge is power, and the more you know about potential risks, the better you can protect yourself.

Consumers need to play their part to ensure their personal data is protected and do not be afraid to ask the difficult questions when signing up for a service or providing data to organisations. The more we become aware and serious about how our data is being used, we can help create a safer digital world.