Happy Data Privacy Day! Time to Protect Your Stuff

In case you didn't know--and we seriously doubt you did--today is National Data Privacy Day!

To recognize the importance of data privacy, Opera recently conducted a survey of Internet users' online privacy concerns in the United States, Russia and Japan. Several of the results might surprise you:

Even as the recession creeps on, Americans are more nervous about having their Internet privacy violated (25 percent) than declaring bankruptcy (23 percent) or losing their jobs (22 percent).

An eyebrow-raising 35 percent of Americans said they're afraid of the government watching them, while only 15 percent showed concern over social networks collecting their information. A shocking 16 percent said they don't worry about data privacy at all.

Fifty-four percent of U.S. respondents believe a desktop PC is the most secure device on which to access the Internet. Three percent said a mobile phone is safer, but 31 percent believe neither is safe. 

To protect their data online, 80 percent of Americans use anti-virus software, 61 percent use safe passwords (oh, sure) and 47 percent delete their browsing history. 

Perhaps not surprisingly, privacy concerns seem to correspond directly to age group: 30 percent of users aged 18-29, 33 percent of those aged 30-43, 39 percent of those aged 44-53, and 50 percent of those aged 54-64 are worried about their privacy.  

Remember, there's always more you can do to protect your data online. Even if you fall into the category of Web surfers who think they have nothing to hide, it's vital for you to be aware of the threats to your privacy, financial security and physical safety.