Final answer:
To protect personal information, individuals should know their privacy rights, review privacy policies carefully, provide only necessary data, monitor credit history, use strong security measures like two-factor authentication, and stay informed about both U.S. and European data privacy laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
Individuals can protect their personal information collected by legitimate institutions using several measures. It is important to become familiar with your privacy rights, and always read privacy policies before making a purchase to understand what you're consenting to. Minimize the risk by providing only the minimum information required, questioning why certain data is collected, how it will be used, and who has access to it. Frequent monitoring of your credit history can alert you to potential identity theft.
To further secure data, one should use increased security measures such as two-factor authentication, creating stronger passwords, and being educated on how to avoid scams. In the wake of data breaches affecting institutions like Target and JP Morgan, it's clear that both consumers and businesses need to be vigilant.
Regarding online privacy and cyber data issues, laws like the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) in the United States, and more stringent data privacy laws in European countries, help regulate the storage and use of personal data by private companies. It is also critical to understand the privacy settings on social media platforms and web browsers you use to control data sharing.