Protecting your Personally Identifiable Information (PII) should be priority number one for all of us. Taking the initial steps to protect your PII is vital nowadays, but what can someone do to ensure that their PII is as protected as possible?
What is PII?
Personally Identifiable Information is any information that could be used to identify a specific person. This can include:
- Home Address
- Email Address
- Credit/Debit Card Number
- First & Last Name
- Race
- Gender
- Social Security Number
- Bank Account Information
With digitized records and automation taking over every aspect of our lives, it’s more important than ever to protect your PII to prevent identity theft.
How to Keep Track of Your Personally Identifiable Information
Protecting your Social Security Number (SSN)
Stop and think the next time you are asked to share your Social Security details. Is the person requesting your information from a bank, a credit bureau, or some other entity required to report to the IRS? If not, do not share your information. Identity theft relies on a valid Social Security number—the more organizations have it, the less protected you are. If you are unsure why a bank or organization requests your Social Security number, call them and ask.
Social Media Accounts
An incredible amount of personal information is available on social media profiles, including birth date, relationship status, location, schools attended, employment information, and more. Cybercriminals can use this information for social engineering purposes: they answer security questions, hack into companies, and launch highly personalized phishing campaigns. Ensure that your Facebook, Twitter, and other social media privacy settings are locked down with two-factor authentication and resist the urge to share private information online.
Public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi can make traveling easier, but be careful about how you use it. It’s pretty easy for criminals to set up a “free Wi-Fi” network, so before joining, confirm the name and password with the coffee shop or library staff. A VPN (virtual private network) encrypts traffic between your device and the VPN server, which is one of the best ways to keep your browsing session private. In addition, force your browser to use HTTPS. Remember to log off and tell your devices to “forget” public networks when finished.
Creative Security Answers
Nowadays, most places require you to answer security questions to confirm your login information. If you make the answers easy, hackers can access your information. Make the answers creative and difficult for someone else to guess or piece together.
Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are essential for protecting your PII. It is key to create a password that is unique and difficult for hackers to guess. Try using symbols, capital letters, or numbers to spice up your passwords, and try not to use the same password for more than one account.
Phishing Scams
Phishing scams are prevalent nowadays, and it can be easy to fall for one. If you are questioning whether an email is a phishing scam, do not open the email. Being too safe can pay off in certain situations like this.
Monitor Your Credit Reports Closely
Monitor your credit reports and financial accounts daily for suspicious activity. Also, scan your credit reports for unusual activity, such as accounts or cards you did not open.
Don’t Give Up Your Data Easily
Be aware of how companies are using your data. Always ask questions about how they protect your personal information.
Personally Identifiable Information Next Steps
In summary, you can’t have identity theft without PII. Doing everything you can to protect your personally identifiable information is essential. Even if it seems silly, doing whatever you can to protect your PII is very important.
Here is a small sample of what you can do:
- Limit what you share on social media.
- Shred important documents before discarding them.
- Avoid handing over your Social Security number just because someone asks for it. Make sure they need it, and ask how they’ll protect it.
- Store your Social Security card safely, not in your wallet.
Ultimately, there’s a lot more you can do, but the key point is to think twice about sharing your PII—and even more often about protecting it. Being overprotective of your PII is very important, even if it seems overkill.
We can help.
If your PII has been breached and your identity has been compromised by a hack, data breach, or other means, contact us today. You can reach our attorneys at (919) 526-0450 or through our contact page.
