Library Guides: Privacy Toolkit: Online Privacy and Security Toolkit

Choose Privacy!

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Privacy Rights of Students in the U.S.

Students: Your Right to Privacy (ACLU)
The American Civil Liberties Union outlines your legal rights in the United States as a student (and, depending on your age, as a minor) to privacy. These rights apply to you regardless of your citizenship status. This guide covers many school-specific situations in which privacy is involved.

About This Guide

This guide was created in 2018 by Nicole Gustavsen, then a Campus Library staff member. It is currently maintained jointly by library staff Je Salvador (jsalv@uw.edu) and Myra Waddell. Please email Je with questions, comments, or suggestions for the guide.

Protect Yourself Online

It seems every day that new information comes to light regarding data breaches, online privacy violations, and massive hacks. As our lives are lived more and more fully online, and as technology advances at a dizzying pace, it is imperative that we understand how to protect ourselves, our data, and our reputations online.

This guide will provide sound information and concrete steps you can take to protect and control your online identity:

Basics of staying safe online, including some simple tips everyone should follow, guides to secure different types and brands of devices, and what to do if you find you've been hacked or your identity has been stolen
Learn about how you're being tracked online, what data is being collected about you, and how you can limit this tracking and collection
All about passwords! Learn how to choose secure passwords, use a password protection service, and test the strength of your passwords
Social Media: how to lock your accounts down, take control of the data you provide each network, and give your online presence a professional makeover.
Advanced security tools such as encryption services, Virtual Private Networks, Tor browsers, and other apps and services
You have legal rights related to online privacy and security in the United States! Learn about them here
NEW: Is your phone taking over your life? Learn about Attention Hacking here, and what to do to decrease the amount of unproductive time you spend on your device or online.

Campus Privacy Policies

Privacy is essential to the exercise of free speech, free thought, and free association. The courts have established a First Amendment right to receive information in a publicly funded library system like UW's. In a library, the right to privacy is the right to open inquiry without having the subject of one's interests put them at risk for harm.

UW Libraries Privacy Statement
The Libraries values the privacy of our patrons and seeks to minimize the collection and retention of personally identifiable information. No personal information maintained by the Libraries is sold to third parties or released to law enforcement agencies without a search warrant.
Security and Privacy Policies at University of Washington (UW IT Connect)
Includes links to Information Security and Privacy Laws and Regulations list as well as the University’s Information Security and Privacy Policies.
Acceptable Use Policy at Cascadia College
The Acceptable Use Policy is a collection of policies approved by the Cascadia College Board of Trustees. It defines how students, staff, and faculty are able to legally, ethically, and fairly use Cascadia's technology resources.