In this digital era driven by technology, social media, targeted ads, and where data breaches are a regular occurrence, many have given up on the concept of data privacy.

Consumer confidence in how companies handle data has eroded, leaving some demanding transparency and control while others feel helpless, hopeless, and resigned.

In response, the National Cybersecurity Alliance has dedicated a week to educating citizens on how to reclaim control over their data.

Celebrated globally, Data Privacy Week commemorates Convention 108, the first legally binding international treaty on data protection.

In a statement from the National Cybersecurity Alliance, the U. S. organization that spearheads the global initiative, the goal of Data Privacy Week is clear.

"Data Privacy Week is an international effort to empower individuals and businesses to respect privacy, safeguard data, and enable trust."

The organization adheres to the premise that privacy is a fundamental human right and seeks to inform the public on how to ensure that privacy remains intact.

Domestically, organizations and individuals focus on knowledge sharing and implementing strategies, tactics, and best practices regarding information security, data safety, and privacy.

Experts are providing guidance in several areas, including ways to reduce personal data exposure.

Information security experts stressed that most cyberattacks begin with exposed personal information.

Consumers are encouraged to review device settings and application permissions, practice good cyber hygiene, update passwords, and implement multi-factor authentication.

Citizens are also charged to limit how much personal information is shared online.

Experts recommend thinking before posting anything that reveals identity, location, or habits.

Reviewing social media accounts, initiating self-audits about what information is necessary, and avoiding oversharing on social media is also encouraged.

Remove unnecessary personal details from online profiles.

Another way to reduce data privacy risks is to review what information apps are collecting and be selective about what permissions you grant.

This is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to protect their privacy.

Apps often request more access than is needed, and every extra permission increases your exposure.

Many apps request access to contacts, location, camera, microphone, or photos, even when those features aren’t required.

Providing unnecessary access increases the amount of personal data an app can gather.

The more data the app has, the more data that can be breached, sold, or abused.

If an app with broad permissions is hacked, attackers gain access to everything the app can see. A compromised app can expose photos, messages, or sensitive files.

Malicious apps can use permissions to spy or steal data.

Permissions that enable tracking are some of the riskiest, as they allow apps to build a more detailed profile of behaviors.

Location access can reveal your home, workplace, routines, and habits.

Device identifiers, which are triggered with location permissions, can be used to track you across apps and websites.

Even worse, some apps sell or share user data.

Many apps are free because they make money by collecting and selling user data.

Experts also warn that permissions can also be used to influence behavior.

This is accomplished through targeted ads based on user habits and interests.

Some even deploy personalized persuasion using emotional patterns or routines.

Selectiveness about app use, what permissions are granted, and what information is shared determines what parts of your life stay private.

Fewer permissions mean less data collected, and the less data collected means fewer long‑term risks.

Some of the riskiest app permissions are location, microphone, and camera access.

Location access like GPS, wifi and bluetooth reveal your home, workplace, daily routines, and travel patterns.

They enable real‑time tracking and can be used to infer sensitive information like religion, health, and political activity.

This is highly valuable information that can be sold to data brokers.

Microphone access can allow apps to listen, possibly enabling eavesdropping and capturing sensitive audio such as meetings, calls, and private moments.

The risk of this type of data being brokered is extremely high.

Camera access allows apps to take photos or videos.

If compromised, it can be used for surveillance, to capture your surroundings, documents, or people nearby.

Photo and media access also exposes your entire photo library and is considered very high risk due to metadata - location and timestamps - that's embedded within the image.

Allowing apps to have access to contacts allows the app to collect names, phone numbers, emails, and more.

This information can be used for targeted phishing or spam, and it violates other people's privacy, not just yours.

These are just a few concerns to weigh as we consider what information we share online and what permissions we grant to apps.

Data is valuable to tech developers, data brokers, and fraudsters.

They know its value.

You should, too.

Privacy is your right.

What will you share with the world?

You decide.

(A related op-ed may be found here.) 

(Editor's Note: The preceding opinion column is not an endorsement of any product or service, on the part of Newsmax.)

V. Venesulia Carr is a former United States Marine, CEO of Vicar Group, LLC and host of "Down to Business with V.," a TV show focused on cyber awareness and cyber safety. She provides insight on technology, cybersecurity, fraud mitigation, national security, and military affairs. Read V. Venesulia Carr articles reports — Click Here Now.