What's the difference between privacy & security?

Asked by: Guadalupe Littel  |  Last update: February 11, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (74 votes)

Privacy is about your right to control personal information (who sees it, when, and how), while Security is about protecting that information from unauthorized access, and Confidentiality is the duty to keep it secret, making them interconnected but distinct aspects of data governance. Privacy asks "Who gets to see my info?", Security asks "How do we stop hackers?", and Confidentiality ensures people entrusted with data (like doctors) keep it private.

What's the difference between privacy and confidentiality?

Confidentiality is an ethical duty that prevents certain people from sharing information with third parties. Privacy is the right to freedom from intrusion into one's personal matters or information.

What are the 4 types of privacy?

With philosophical, legal, social, and technological aspects it can mean different things to different people. There are different types of privacy: intellectual[1], informational, bodily, communication, and territorial[2].

What are the three types of privacy?

The 7 Types of Privacy

  • Privacy of the Individual. You can think of privacy of the individual as bodily autonomy. ...
  • Privacy of Behavior and Action. ...
  • Privacy of Communication. ...
  • Privacy of Personal Data. ...
  • Privacy of Thoughts and Feelings. ...
  • Privacy of Location and Space. ...
  • Privacy of Association.

Where is privacy and security in settings on iPhone?

In Settings > Privacy & Security, you can see which apps you have allowed to access certain information, as well as grant or revoke any future access. This might include access to: Location Services. Contacts.

Data Security vs Data Privacy

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What iPhone privacy settings should I turn off?

What settings should I turn off on my iPhone for privacy?

  • Personalized ads: Stop Apple from using your App Store and browsing activity to serve you targeted ads.
  • iPhone analytics: Prevent your device from automatically sending usage and diagnostic data to Apple.

How to find secret hidden apps on iPhone?

To find hidden apps on your iPhone (iOS 18+), swipe right to the App Library, scroll to the bottom, tap the "Hidden" folder, and use Face ID/Touch ID/passcode to view them, then press and hold an app to unhide it by selecting "Don't Require Face ID". You can also find apps by using Spotlight Search (swipe down on the Home Screen) or checking Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps. 

What are examples of privacy controls?

4 Popular Types of Privacy Controls. While there are many approaches to protecting data privacy, we'll focus on four popular technical methods – data access control, encryption, anonymization, and data loss prevention (DLP).

What are the 4 functions of privacy?

According to Westin, the four dimensions of privacy perform four functions, which are personal autonomy, emotional release, self-evaluation, and limited and protected communication.

What are the 4 types of security?

The four main types of securities are Equity (ownership like stocks), Debt (loans like bonds), Hybrid (mix of equity/debt like convertible bonds), and Derivative (based on underlying assets like options). These categories represent ownership, borrowing, a blend, and contracts on other assets, allowing investors to gain exposure to different financial markets.
 

What is an example of privacy?

And there are different ways to look at privacy, such as: physical privacy (for instance, being frisked at airport security or giving a bodily sample for medical reasons) surveillance (where your identity can't be proved or information isn't recorded) information privacy (how your personal information is handled).

How do you prove someone is invading your privacy?

In order to establish a claim, the plaintiff must show that the defendant intentionally intruded into a place where the plaintiff had a reasonable expectation of privacy, that the intrusion would be highly offensive to a reasonable person, and that the defendant's conduct was a substantial factor in harming the ...

What are the three primary privacy issues?

Information mishandling, snooping and location tracking are often the ways in which users find their privacy violated online.

What counts as privacy?

Privacy – the state or condition of freedom from being observed or disturbed by other people and having control relating to the use of your own data. It is the right of individuals to control their personal information, decisions, and actions, free from unwarranted intrusion or surveillance.

What is privacy vs secrecy?

Secrecy is sometimes labelled intentional hiding of information and privacy as being more about a protection of one's personal boundaries. However, the line between these two terms can be blurred. The saying “what they don't know won't hurt them” is an example of the overlapping nature of privacy and secrecy.

What are common privacy breaches?

The most common form of data breach is cybercriminals' unauthorized access to sensitive information. This can occur through phishing attacks, malware infections, or exploiting weak passwords, leaving individuals and organizations vulnerable to identity theft and financial fraud.

What are the 7 principles of privacy?

The "7 privacy principles" can refer to different frameworks, but most commonly they point to either the GDPR's core principles (Lawfulness, Fairness, Transparency; Purpose Limitation; Data Minimisation; Accuracy; Storage Limitation; Integrity & Confidentiality; Accountability) or Privacy by Design principles (Proactive, Default, Embedded, Full Functionality, End-to-End Security, Visibility, Respect for Users). Both aim to protect personal data by focusing on data processing rules, user rights, and security, emphasizing transparency, limited collection, and accountability.
 

Why is privacy so important?

Human right to privacy

It relates to an individual's ability to determine for themselves when, how, and for what purpose their personal information is handled by others. Protecting privacy is key to ensuring human dignity, safety and self-determination. It allows individuals freely develop their own personality.

What are the 4 elements of privacy?

To summarise, this work proposes that privacy is a person's: right to be aware of privacy precepts, to control disclosure of personal data, to control “person” information and to be left alone (enforce boundaries).

What is an example of a violation of privacy?

Meanwhile, a violation of privacy stems from internal practices or the mishandling of data within organizations. Privacy violation examples include unauthorized data sharing with third parties or using customer information for purposes beyond the scope of its intended use.

What are the 8 individual privacy rights?

The GDPR has a chapter on the rights of data subjects (individuals) which includes the right of access, the right to rectification, the right to erasure, the right to restrict processing, the right to data portability, the right to object and the right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated ...

How do you protect your privacy?

Keep your account numbers, user names, and passwords secret. Only share your primary email address or Instant Message (IM) name with people you know or with reputable organizations. Avoid listing your address or name on internet directories and job-posting sites.

What do Decoy apps look like?

Decoy apps look like normal, everyday applications such as calculators, cameras, music players, or games, but function as hidden vaults for private content like photos, videos, messages, and notes, accessed via a specific PIN or gesture instead of a standard password, often blending in with default icons to avoid detection. For example, a seemingly normal calculator might reveal a secret vault when a special code (e.g., 1234=) is entered, while a volume control app could hide files by looking like a utility.
 

How can you tell if someone has a secret app?

To spot hidden apps, check your phone's app list in Settings (especially under "Home Screen" or "Apps") for any you don't recognize, look for apps disguised as calculators or notes, examine battery/data usage for unknown power-hungry apps, and use a file manager or security scanner for deep detection. Look for unusual behavior like apps with high-risk permissions (camera, mic) or apps hiding in secure folders.