Taking a look inside data privacy

Taking steps to help protect your personal data is more important now than ever before. We all have a role to play in understanding the wide (and wild) world of data privacy.

This resource is a space to learn and explore some of the ways you can manage your digital privacy and help keep your personal data safe.

Dive into our dictionary of common terms to help you decode and discuss the world of data privacy

Everyone wants to keep their personal data safe, but the world of data privacy is complex and can be confusing. Understanding commonly used terms can give you a better understanding of how to protect your personal information.

Here are some terms to help you understand the wide world of data privacy.

Authentication

A process in which a system, service, or website determines that the rightful account holder is the one accessing it. Digital authentication can come in many forms and combinations including passwords, biometric data, and more.

Consent Management

The process by which a business/website obtains consent from users to the collection, use, disclosure and processing of personal information.

Data Encryption

Taking readable data and changing it so it appears to be written with random text in order to prevent it from being viewed or altered. Encrypted data can only be decrypted by people with access to a special key (a “decryption key”).

Data privacy

The idea that an individual should have control of their personal data and how it is collected or shared.

Verification

A process in which a system or service needs to confirm that the user is an actual person that exists and that the user is who they say they are. This is usually done with physical identification documents such as ID cards, passports, or bank information.

Delve into the dictionary

The moment of sign-in: Are you confident or confused?

Signing in – the act of verifying your identity to access online services or activities – is something that you can often overlook when it comes to safeguarding your personal information online.

With new research commissioned by Interac, we learned about the most common methods Canadians are using to sign into websites or services, how much trust they place in different sign-in options, and how they want their personal information to be protected.

Want to learn more?
Take our questionnaire!

START

1/5

1. Which of the following types of online accounts do you trust the most to properly manage and store your personal information?

Your answer:

69% of Canadians say they trust their banks or financial institutions with their personal information.

Today, Canadians can leverage their existing banking credentials to access participating online services on other platforms with Interac sign-in service.

2/5

2. Who do you feel is primarily accountable for protecting your personal information online?

Your answer:

53% of Canadians believe organizations are primarily responsible for protecting their personal information.

As Canadians hold organizations accountable for the use and storage of data, entities of all sizes have an obligation to provide clear guidelines on how personal information will be used and to enable increased control for users when it comes to managing their privacy online.

3/5

3. Have you used one of your existing social media or email accounts to sign into an online service?

Your answer:

Nearly six in 10 Canadians (58%) say they use their social media accounts to log in to other online services.

Signing into online accounts is something you might do without considering the implications it can have on your data. Canadians continue to sign in through services in which they report low levels of trust and confidence. For example, only 11% trust social media accounts to store their personal information.

4/5

4. Do you find it tedious to set up new usernames and passwords for every website or service you use online?

Your answer:

If you answered yes, then you aren’t alone. 50% of Canadians agree that it’s tedious to set up a new username and password to access online services.

Rather than creating a new username and password, you can access participating government and business services with your existing banking credentials through Interac sign-in service.

5/5

5. Some organizations allow users to verify their identity and sign in using existing financial institution or banking credentials. How do you feel about using this type of technology?

Your answer:

Almost half of Canadians (49%) support using their financial institution login details to verify their identity during the sign-in process.

While many Canadians would be supportive of using their bank login to verify their identity when signing into other services, only about two in five Canadians (37%) have heard of using this method. This figure suggests Canadians would benefit from more education on the role trusted credentials can play during sign-in.

What we learned from this research:

Canadians are increasingly concerned with the lack of control they have over their personal information online. The moment of sign-in is a critical opportunity to protect your privacy, so it’s important to understand the benefits and the potential risks of the method you choose.

Read more about how you can help protect yourself online with Interac verification solutions.

Learn more

Restart

See what Canadians are saying about data privacy

A majority of Canadians are concerned about the protection of their data and privacy online, but there are often inconsistencies in how – or even if – they’re taking action to safeguard their personal information. Interac has identified the moment of sign-in as a critical opportunity to protect privacy.

7 in 10

want more control over their online information

Only 6%

feel their personal information is being used for its intended purpose

More than half

have used the same passwords across multiple websites

69%

would like more information to be readily available on how they can protect their personal information online

Read the press release

IDEAS

Protecting you and your digital self

How many versions of yourself exist online? Learn how to secure your digital identity and help protect your personal information at the moment of sign-in.

Read the article

Want to know more about protecting your data?

See what Interac verification solutions can do for you.

Learn more

Taking a look inside data privacy

Dive into our dictionary of common terms to help you decode and discuss the world of data privacy

Authentication

Consent Management

Data Encryption

Data privacy

Verification

The moment of sign-in: Are you confident or confused?

Want to learn more? Take our questionnaire!

1. Which of the following types of online accounts do you trust the most to properly manage and store your personal information?

2. Who do you feel is primarily accountable for protecting your personal information online?

3. Have you used one of your existing social media or email accounts to sign into an online service?

4. Do you find it tedious to set up new usernames and passwords for every website or service you use online?

5. Some organizations allow users to verify their identity and sign in using existing financial institution or banking credentials. How do you feel about using this type of technology?

What we learned from this research:

See what Canadians are saying about data privacy

7 in 10

Only 6%

More than half

69%

Protecting you and your digital self

Want to know more about protecting your data?

Want to learn more?
Take our questionnaire!