eNews
Stop feeding the machine: Why Data Privacy Day 2026 is your wake-up call
MUMBAI: It is January 28, 2026. Today, the world observes Data Privacy Day. But let’s be honest: for the other 364 days of the year, we are usually too busy scrolling to care. We click “Accept All Cookies” to read an article. We trade our email addresses for 10% off a pair of sneakers. We spill our deepest thoughts to AI chatbots without wondering where that data goes.
The result? You are leaving a trail of “digital exhaust” that is being vacuumed up, packaged, and sold to the highest bidder.
Today is the day we hit the brakes. Privacy is no longer a luxury for the paranoid; it is a necessity for the free. Here is why this matters right now, and how you can fix it fast.
The New Threat: It’s not just hackers anymore
In the past, we worried about criminals stealing our credit card numbers. In 2026, the game has changed. The entity hungry for your data isn’t just a hoodie-wearing hacker in a basement—it’s the legitimate apps on your phone and the algorithms training on your behavior.
• The AI Mirror: Every prompt you type into a public AI model can theoretically become part of its brain. Your distinct writing style, your problems, and your ideas are the fuel.
• Biometric Overload: We pay with our faces and unlock doors with our fingerprints. If a password gets stolen, you change it. If your biometric data gets stolen, you can’t change your face.
• The “Free” Trap: If an app is free, you aren’t the customer; you are the product. Your location history, health stats, and spending habits are the inventory.
The 15-minute privacy sprint
You don’t need to go off the grid or move to a cabin in the woods. You just need to tighten the bolts. Here is your rapid-fire action plan for today:
1. Kill the zombies
We all have “zombie accounts”—old logins for fitness apps we used once in 2021 or shopping sites we forgot about. These are security holes waiting to happen.
The Fix: If you haven’t logged in for 12 months, delete the account. Not the app—the account.
2. Starve the chatbot
AI is useful, but it doesn’t need to know your secrets.
The Fix: Turn off “Chat History” in your AI settings where possible. Never enter financial details, legal documents, or medical info into a public Generative AI tool.
3. The “location” audit
Does your flashlight app need to know you are in a coffee shop? Does your calculator need your contact list? Absolutely not.
The Fix: Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services (on iOS or Android). Change permissions from “Always Allow” to “While Using” or, even better, “Never” for non-essential apps.
4. Ditch the SMS two-factor
Hackers can swap SIM cards easier than they can crack passwords. Receiving your 2FA codes via text message is the weak link in 2026.
The Fix: Switch to an Authenticator App or use a physical security key (like a YubiKey). It takes five minutes to set up and multiplies your security by ten.
The bottom line
Data Privacy Day isn’t about fear; it’s about agency.
Your data is an extension of your physical self. It is your identity, your history, and your future. By taking control of it, you aren’t just securing a device; you are reclaiming your right to be a person, rather than a data point.
Don’t wait for next January. Make privacy a habit, starting now.
eNews
Swiggy sees record orders during India vs New Zealand T20 final
Chicken biryani tops match-day menu as fans order 7,500 times per minute at peak.
MUMBAI: India’s T20 final didn’t just break stumps, it broke Swiggy’s delivery records, proving cricket fans celebrate victories with plates, not just flags. Swiggy, India’s leading on-demand convenience platform, reported a sharp spike in food orders during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final between India and New Zealand. On 8 March 2026, overall orders rose 23.2 per cent year-on-year compared with the same date in 2025, driven by fans turning living rooms into mini stadiums complete with match-day feasts.
Key highlights from the evening:
- Orders during peak match hours (7–10 pm) were 2.1 times higher than pre-match levels.
- The highest order rate hit 7,500 orders per minute at 19:45.
- Chicken biryani reigned supreme as the most-ordered dish, followed by masala dosa, chicken fried rice, garlic breadsticks and paneer butter masala.
While metros such as Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad led volumes, the cricketing fever spread nationwide. Among emerging cities, Thiruvananthapuram, Surat and Rajkot recorded the strongest order growth. Smaller markets including Shillong, Agartala and Port Blair also showed significant appetite, underlining the expanding footprint of quick-commerce food delivery across India.
The surge reflects a growing trend of pairing major sporting events with doorstep delivery, turning big matches into shared, convenient celebrations. In a night where every boundary mattered, Swiggy proved the real MVP might just be the delivery partner who kept the snacks and the vibes flowing without missing a single wicket.
