NAVIGATING THE LANDSCAPE OF PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION: CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS

Abstract

The rapid advancement of technology in recent years has had a significant impact on society. While technology has made life easier and provided access to various systems and applications, it has also raised concerns about the security and privacy of personal data. This paper explores the challenges and issues related to implementing personal data protection in the digital age. The increasing number of identity theft cases and personal data breaches serve as evidence that our data on the Internet is no longer safe. Despite these risks, there has been a surge in the number of users willingly sharing their personal information online, often without fully understanding the potential consequences. One major concern is the sharing of private information, such as identity card numbers, contact details, and email addresses, with third-party applications or systems without carefully reviewing the associated terms and conditions. This practice exposes users to the risk of identity theft and misuse of personal data. The value of personal data on the black market is staggering, reaching up to US$200 billion. Furthermore, popular social networking platforms allow users to disclose personal information, including their addresses, dates of birth, and personal photos, which increases the vulnerability of their personal data. Advertisers are particularly interested in accessing this wealth of user information for targeted marketing purposes. Cybercriminals also exploit various tactics, such as malicious software, to deceive users and obtain their personal data for illicit purposes. These attacks pose significant challenges to implementing effective personal data protection measures. This study reviews previous research conducted by students and experts to identify the challenges and issues associated with personal data protection. It provides an overview of personal data protection, discusses methods to safeguard personal data, examines the different types of attacks used to disclose personal information, and proposes strategies to mitigate data disclosure risks.