PII Information

Personally identifiable information (PII) is any data that could potentially identify a specific individual. This includes, but is not limited to, names, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, financial account numbers, medical records, and biometric data.

PII can be collected in a variety of ways, including through cookies placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website, through forms you fill out online or in person, or through the purchase of marketing lists.

PII is often used by businesses for marketing and advertising purposes. It can also be sold to third parties without your consent or knowledge. PII can be mishandled in a number of ways, including through hacking and data breaches, employee negligence or error, and illegal dumping of paper records containing PII.

If you are a business that wants to ensure pii protection, you should check out https://www.verygoodsecurity.com/use-cases/pii to implement robust pii protection solutions. PII that is mishandled can lead to identity theft, fraud, and other crimes. It can also cause emotional distress and financial harm. Here are some strong reasons to secure pii.

Reasons to Secure Your PII

As the world becomes more and more digitized, it’s important to be aware of how to protect your Personally Identifiable Information (PII). Here are a few reasons to secure your PII:

To prevent identity theft: One of the most common ways for thieves to steal your identity is by collecting your PII. They can do this through dumpster diving, phishing scams, or simply stealing your mail. Once they have your PII, they can use it to open new accounts in your name, make unauthorized charges on your existing accounts, or even apply for loans in your name.

To protect financial information: In addition to identity theft, another risk of having your PII compromised is that thieves could gain access to your financial accounts. They could use your credit card number to make unauthorized charges or even drain your bank account.

Stop avoid fraud and scams: If you give out too much personal information online, you could be at risk for fraud or scams. For example, you may receive an email that looks like it’s from a legitimate company but is actually from a scammer trying to get your personal information. Or you may click on a link that takes you to a fake website that looks real but is actually just trying to collect your personal data.

To keep your confidential information confidential: Some types of personal information are meant to be kept confidential, such as medical records or tax returns. If this type of information gets into the wrong hands, it could be used to exploit you or your family.

To prevent identity fraud: In addition to Identity theft, there is also such a thing as identity fraud. This is when someone uses your personal information to commit a crime, such as opening a new credit card in your name and running up a huge bill.

To protect privacy - In general, you should be careful about sharing too much personal information online. The more information you share, the less private your life becomes.

The Consequences of a Data Breach

Data breaches are becoming increasingly common, and the consequences can be serious. If your personally identifiable information (PII) is compromised in a data breach, you could be at risk of identity theft, financial fraud, and other problems.

Identity theft is one of the most common consequences of a data breach. If thieves get their hands on your PII, they can open new accounts in your name, run up bills on your existing accounts, and generally wreak havoc on your financial life. You may not even realize that you’ve been a victim of identity theft until you start getting calls from creditors or collection agencies.

Financial fraud is another potential consequence of a data breach. If your credit card or bank account information is stolen in a data breach, thieves can use it to make unauthorized charges or withdrawals. This can lead to bounced checks, late fees, and other financial problems.

In addition to identity theft and financial fraud, a data breach can also cause emotional distress. If your sensitive personal information is leaked, you may feel violated and anxious about the possibility of being targeted by criminals. You may also have to deal with unwanted calls and emails from scammers trying to take advantage of the situation.

How to Secure PII?

If you are concerned about your PII, there are a few steps you can take to secure it. First, be aware of what information is considered PII. This includes items like your social security number, date of birth, driver’s license number, and financial account information. You should never share this information online or over the phone unless you are absolutely sure the person on the other end is legitimate.

If you must share your PII with someone, make sure you only do so through a secure connection. This means ensuring that the website you are sharing information on is encrypted and that any email exchanges are done through a secure server. You should also never send unencrypted PII via email.

Finally, keep track of who has access to your PII. If possible, limit the number of people who have this information to only those who absolutely need it. Be sure to change passwords frequently and monitor your accounts for any suspicious activity. By taking these precautions, you can help protect yourself from identity theft and other scams.