Legal Definitions - data protection

Data protection refers to any method used to keep information safe, especially information that is stored on a computer. This is done to prevent the loss of data or unauthorized access to it.

Examples of data protection methods include:

• Encryption: This involves converting data into a code that can only be read by someone who has the key to unlock it.
• Firewalls: These are software programs that prevent unauthorized access to a computer or network.
• Backups: This involves making copies of important data and storing them in a safe place, so that they can be retrieved if the original data is lost or damaged.

For instance, if a company stores sensitive customer information on its computer system, it may use encryption to protect that data from being accessed by hackers. Similarly, a person may use a firewall to prevent viruses or malware from infecting their computer and stealing their personal information. Backups are also important in case of a system failure or other disaster that could result in the loss of important data.