Category: Technology
Protecting Your Personal Information Online
Every time you use the internet, you share some information about yourself. You enter an address when you order something, provide a phone number when creating an account, save a credit card for future purchases, upload photos, fill out forms, and create profiles.
Sharing some personal information online is necessary. The goal isn’t to hide every detail about yourself or become afraid of using the internet. It’s learning which information deserves extra protection and developing a few habits that make it harder for the wrong person to get access to it.
You don’t need to become a cybersecurity expert. Protecting your information mostly comes down to making thoughtful decisions about what you share, where you share it, and who you’re sharing it with.
What Is Personal Information?
Personal information is anything that can identify you or reveal details about your life.
Examples include:
- Full name
- Home address
- Phone number
- Email address
- Date of birth
- Photos
- Employer
- School
- Location
- Family information
Some personal information is relatively easy to find.
Other information deserves much stronger protection.
What Is Sensitive Personal Information?
Certain information can create serious problems if it falls into the wrong hands.
Be especially careful with:
- Social Security number
- Driver’s license number
- Passport information
- Bank account numbers
- Credit and debit card information
- Passwords
- Verification codes
- Tax documents
- Medical information
- Insurance information
- Account recovery information
Don’t provide sensitive information simply because a website, message, or person asks for it.
First understand why it’s needed.
Ask Why the Information Is Needed
Before entering personal information online, ask:
- Who is requesting this?
- Why do they need it?
- Does this request make sense?
- Is this the correct website or app?
- Is all of this information actually necessary?
For example, an employer may legitimately need certain information after hiring you.
A random website offering a free personality quiz probably doesn’t need your Social Security number.
Context matters.
Share Only What’s Necessary
Online forms sometimes request more information than you actually need to provide.
Pay attention to which fields are:
Required
and which are:
Optional
You don’t necessarily need to complete every optional field.
The less unnecessary information you provide, the less information there is to expose later.
Protect Your Social Security Number
Your Social Security number is particularly sensitive.
Legitimate organizations may sometimes need it, including certain:
- Employers
- Financial institutions
- Government agencies
- Tax services
But don’t provide it casually.
If someone requests your Social Security number, make sure:
- You know who they are.
- You understand why they need it.
- You’re using a legitimate method to provide it.
Be cautious about sending it through ordinary email or text messages.
Protect Your Identification
Driver’s licenses and passports contain valuable personal information.
Before uploading or sending identification:
- Confirm who’s requesting it.
- Understand why it’s required.
- Make sure you’re using the correct website or service.
- Use a secure submission method when available.
Don’t send a photograph of your identification simply because someone unexpectedly asks for one.
Be Careful With Photos of Documents
Phones make it easy to photograph:
- Insurance cards
- Driver’s licenses
- Passports
- Tax forms
- Medical documents
- Credit cards
- Receipts
These photos may remain in your photo library long after you’ve forgotten about them.
If you photograph sensitive documents, consider whether the image needs to remain there.
If you need to keep a digital copy, store it appropriately and protect the account or device containing it.
Protect Your Email Account
Your email account can be one of the most important accounts you own.
It’s often used to:
- Reset passwords
- Receive financial information
- Confirm purchases
- Recover other accounts
- Store personal conversations
- Receive medical or employment information
Protect your primary email account with:
- A strong, unique password
- Multi-factor authentication
- Updated recovery information
If someone gains access to your email, they may be able to use it to reach other accounts.
Use Unique Passwords
Don’t use the same password for multiple important accounts.
If one company experiences a data breach, someone may try the exposed password on other websites.
Use unique passwords for important accounts such as:
- Banking
- Cloud storage
- Shopping
- Social media
- Work or school
A password manager can make this much easier.
Use Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication adds another layer of protection to your account.
After entering your password, you may also need:
- An authenticator app
- A security key
- A temporary code
- A device confirmation
- A fingerprint
- Face recognition
Enable multi-factor authentication on important accounts when it’s available.
This can help protect an account even if someone obtains the password.
Never Share Verification Codes
If you receive a security or verification code, don’t give it to someone who contacts you.
Scammers may say:
“I accidentally sent the code to you.”
“I need the code to confirm your identity.”
“Read me the number so I can secure your account.”
Don’t do it.
The code may actually be allowing them to sign into your account.
Treat verification codes like temporary passwords.
Keep Your Recovery Information Current
Your accounts may use a recovery phone number or email address if you lose access.
Make sure this information is current.
Remove:
- Old phone numbers
- Email addresses you no longer use
- Recovery methods you don’t recognize
If an account has recovery information belonging to someone else, that person may potentially be able to regain access to the account.
Protect Your Phone
Your phone contains an extraordinary amount of personal information.
It may provide access to:
- Banking
- Photos
- Messages
- Contacts
- Cloud storage
- Payment information
- Passwords
Protect it with:
- A strong PIN or passcode
- Fingerprint or face recognition when appropriate
- Automatic screen locking
- Device tracking or lost-device features when available
Avoid simple passcodes such as 1234 or 0000.
Lock Your Computer
Protect your computer with a password, PIN, or other secure login.
When you’re away from it, especially in a shared environment, lock the screen.
This prevents someone from casually accessing your files or accounts while you’re gone.
Keep Your Devices Updated
Software updates frequently include security fixes.
Keep your:
- Phone
- Computer
- Tablet
- Web browser
- Apps
reasonably current.
Use the device’s official update system rather than software offered through unexpected pop-ups.
Download Apps From Trusted Sources
Whenever possible, install apps through your device’s official app store or another trusted source.
Be cautious with apps that ask you to download software from unfamiliar websites.
Before installing an app, consider:
- Who created it?
- Does the name look correct?
- Does it have a legitimate reason to request its permissions?
- Did you intentionally look for it?
A familiar logo alone doesn’t prove an app is legitimate.
Review App Permissions
Apps may request access to parts of your device.
Examples include:
- Camera
- Microphone
- Contacts
- Photos
- Location
- Bluetooth
- Files
Some permissions make perfect sense.
A navigation app may need your location.
A video calling app may need your camera and microphone.
But if a simple calculator wants your contacts, microphone, precise location, photos, and perhaps the keys to your apartment, it’s reasonable to ask why.
Turn Off Permissions You Don’t Need
Your device settings usually allow you to review app permissions.
Look at which apps can access:
- Location
- Camera
- Microphone
- Photos
- Contacts
If an app no longer needs access, you may be able to turn that permission off.
Some devices also allow you to choose options such as:
- Never
- Ask Next Time
- While Using the App
- Always
Choose the level of access that makes sense.
Understand Location Sharing
Location information can be useful for:
- Maps
- Weather
- Rides
- Deliveries
- Finding a lost device
But not every app needs continuous access to your location.
Review location permissions occasionally.
Pay particular attention to apps allowed to access your location even when you aren’t actively using them.
Be Careful When Sharing Your Location With People
Phones and apps may allow you to share your live location with:
- Family
- Friends
- Groups
This can be useful for travel or safety.
But remember to review who can still see your location.
Temporary sharing can quietly become permanent if you forget it’s turned on.
Think Before Posting Personal Information
Social media can reveal much more information than you realize.
Posts may reveal:
- Where you live
- Where you work
- Your daily routine
- Where your children attend school
- When you’re traveling
- Your birthday
- Family relationships
- Your pets
- Your location
Individually, these details may seem harmless.
Together, they can create a surprisingly detailed picture of your life.
Be Careful With Vacation Posts
Posting:
“Leaving for two weeks in Florida!”
also announces that you may not be home for two weeks.
Consider sharing vacation photos after you return rather than publicly broadcasting that your home may be empty.
Review who can see your posts and location information.
Check the Background of Photos
Before posting or sending a photo, look at what’s visible behind the main subject.
You might accidentally reveal:
- Mail with your address
- Identification
- School information
- Computer screens
- Work documents
- Financial information
- House numbers
- License plates
A few seconds of checking can prevent accidental oversharing.
Review Social Media Privacy Settings
Social media accounts may allow you to control:
- Who sees your posts
- Who can contact you
- Who can find your profile
- Whether you’re searchable by phone number or email
- Whether your location is shared
- Who can tag you
Privacy settings can change over time.
Review them occasionally rather than assuming the settings you chose years ago still work the same way.
Remember That “Private” Isn’t Completely Private
Privacy settings reduce who can directly access your posts, but they can’t guarantee complete privacy.
Someone who can see your content may:
- Take a screenshot
- Save a photo
- Copy a message
- Forward information
Before posting something online, consider whether you’d be comfortable with it being saved or shared beyond the original audience.
Be Careful With Online Quizzes
Social media posts sometimes ask questions such as:
What was your first car?
What was the name of your first pet?
What street did you grow up on?
These may seem harmless.
But similar information has historically been used in account security questions.
Avoid publicly sharing personal details that could help someone guess passwords or recovery information.
Watch What You Share in Public Groups
Online groups and forums may contain people you don’t know.
Before posting:
- Addresses
- Phone numbers
- Personal documents
- Children’s information
- Financial details
- Travel plans
consider who can see the group.
A neighborhood group containing thousands of members isn’t the same as a private conversation with a neighbor.
Be Careful With Public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi can be convenient, but use extra care when connecting to unfamiliar networks.
Avoid automatically trusting a network simply because its name sounds legitimate.
For example, several networks might appear in a coffee shop:
CoffeeShopWiFi
CoffeeShop_Guest
FREE_Coffee_WiFi
Ask the business which network is theirs if you’re unsure.
Avoid Sensitive Tasks on Untrusted Devices
Be especially cautious about accessing sensitive accounts from:
- Public computers
- Hotel business centers
- Shared devices
- Computers you don’t control
If you must use a shared computer:
- Don’t save passwords.
- Don’t select Remember Me.
- Sign out completely.
- Avoid storing downloaded documents.
- Avoid sensitive financial activity when possible.
Your own trusted device is usually the better choice.
Don’t Leave Accounts Signed In
If you use a device that other people can access, sign out when you’re finished.
This is especially important for:
- Banking
- Cloud storage
- Shopping accounts
- Social media
- Medical portals
Closing the browser window doesn’t always sign you out.
Use the actual Sign Out or Log Out option.
Review Saved Payment Information
Online stores may save:
- Credit cards
- Addresses
- Phone numbers
This makes checkout convenient.
It also means your account may contain valuable information.
Protect shopping accounts with strong passwords, and remove old payment methods or addresses you no longer use.
Be Careful With Autofill
Browsers and devices can automatically fill information such as:
- Name
- Address
- Phone number
- Payment information
Autofill can be convenient.
But before submitting a form, review what’s actually being entered.
Make sure you’re on the correct website and that the information is appropriate for the form.
Watch for Phishing
Phishing messages try to convince you to provide information or sign into fake websites.
Common warning signs include:
- Unexpected messages
- Urgent threats
- Suspicious login links
- Requests for passwords
- Requests for verification codes
- Strange payment requests
If a message says there’s a problem with an account, open the official app or website yourself instead of using the message’s link.
Be Careful With Forms Sent by Email or Text
A form may look professional while still being fraudulent.
Before entering sensitive information:
- Verify who sent it.
- Confirm why the information is needed.
- Check where the form is hosted.
- Contact the organization independently if necessary.
Don’t let a polished logo do all the trust-building.
What Is a Data Breach?
A data breach occurs when information held by an organization is accessed or exposed without authorization.
Information exposed could include:
- Email addresses
- Passwords
- Phone numbers
- Addresses
- Financial information
- Other personal data
A breach doesn’t necessarily mean someone has personally targeted you.
But it may mean you need to take protective steps.
What to Do After a Data Breach
If a company you use reports a breach:
- Read the company’s official information about what was affected.
- Change your password if appropriate.
- Use a unique password.
- Change the password anywhere else you reused it.
- Enable multi-factor authentication.
- Watch for suspicious messages.
- Monitor affected accounts when appropriate.
Be especially cautious about phishing messages that appear after a publicized breach.
Scammers sometimes use real breaches as the starting point for new scams.
Helpful Resources: Browse Identity Protection for products, equipment, services, or supplies related to this section.
Check Your Financial Accounts
Review financial accounts regularly.
Look for:
- Purchases you don’t recognize
- Unexpected transfers
- Unfamiliar withdrawals
- Changes to contact information
Reporting suspicious activity quickly can be important.
Consider enabling account alerts for transactions or other important activity when your financial institution provides them.
Protect Your Information Offline Too
Online security and physical security overlap.
Documents containing personal information should be stored appropriately.
Before throwing away documents containing sensitive information, consider shredding them.
Examples include:
- Bank statements
- Tax documents
- Credit offers
- Medical statements
- Documents containing account numbers
Protecting personal information isn’t only a digital task.
What If You Think Your Information Was Exposed?
Start by identifying what information may have been exposed.
Was it:
- A password?
- Credit card?
- Bank information?
- Social Security number?
- Email account?
- Identification?
The correct response depends on the information involved.
Possible actions may include:
- Changing passwords
- Contacting a financial institution
- Replacing a compromised card
- Reviewing account activity
- Securing your email
- Monitoring financial information
- Following identity-theft recovery steps
Act based on what was actually exposed rather than changing everything randomly.
Create a Personal Information Rule
Before sharing sensitive information online, develop a simple habit:
Personal Information Safety Checklist
Common Mistakes
Avoid these common mistakes:
- Sharing personal information simply because a form asks for it.
- Using the same password for multiple important accounts.
- Leaving important accounts without multi-factor authentication.
- Sharing verification codes.
- Keeping outdated recovery phone numbers on accounts.
- Giving every app every permission it requests.
- Leaving location sharing on indefinitely.
- Posting personal information publicly without considering who can see it.
- Sharing vacation plans publicly while you’re away.
- Forgetting to check what’s visible in the background of photos.
- Saving passwords on public computers.
- Assuming closing a browser automatically signs you out.
- Clicking account-security links in unexpected messages.
- Ignoring suspicious financial transactions.
- Assuming privacy settings make anything posted online completely private.
Protecting your personal information doesn’t require avoiding the internet. It means becoming more intentional about what you share and who receives it. Protect your important accounts, keep your devices secure, question unexpected requests, and share only the information that’s actually necessary. Those small habits create several layers of protection around your digital life.
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