This is one of the ideas I present in my book. The only disagreement I have is that CLIENTS themselves are the root of privacy issues. Unless they have a dedicated staff intentionally protecting them, many mistakes get made they probably are not even aware of…

…In this age of the internet, social media and always-on mobile communication, keeping personal matters private has become an increasingly pressing concern for many people. In Canada, more than 90 per cent of adults are worried about protecting their privacy, according to a survey last year by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

This concern isn't fuelled merely by the modesty that's become a part of the Canadian stereotype; it's also driven by uncertainties about what ultimately happens to personal information that is being gathered online.

For wealthy individuals and families, this concern over protecting privacy is often magnified, says Tom McCullough, chairman and chief executive officer at Northwood Family Office, a Toronto boutique firm that oversees the financial affairs of high-net-worth families.

“Where there's more wealth, there's also more complexity and more risk,” he says. “At the same time, wealthy people are natural targets for scammers and hackers, who want to go straight to where the money is.”

An added challenge for the wealthy: The richer they get, the harder it becomes to keep a low profile. That's why they need to be vigilant about protecting their privacy, says Mr. McCullough.

“The consequences can range from just getting more calls from charities to identity theft and nefarious stuff like ransomware, where you get a note saying all your data will be deleted unless you pay a big amount of cash,” he says. “Or maybe you post something on Facebook about being away for two weeks in Turks and Caicos and somebody comes into your house and takes your stuff.”…

Read the full article: The weakest link in protecting privacy? Personal staff-via The Globe and Mail