Data is actually a vague concept. It encompasses tons of information that falls into different categories. Given the situation, as internet users, it is crucial that you know how you can protect your privacy and make sure that your security is never compromised. Because remember, it is your personal data that is at risk, from your online/offline activities, your account credentials and a lot more.
Personally Identifiable Information
Personally Identifiable Information is simply known as PII. This includes anything that is related to your personal information, as the name suggests. It can be anything from:
- Email address
- Home address
- Telephone numbers
- Date of birth
- Marital status
- Social Security Numbers
- Insurance information
- Family members
- Employment
- Level of education
Should be Aware of it?
All the data mentioned above whether stolen or lost in data breaches via phishing could give attackers the opportunity to commit identity theft. When that happens, they can start doing virtually anything under your authority without you knowing. For instance, they can get a loan using your name, use your credit card for online shopping and so forth.
Browsing Activities and Web Visits
Your online activity is constantly monitored by your ISP or Internet Service Provider and this could be hijacked.
While there’s so little that people can do towards attacks at ISP level, the websites you have visited could be tracked using cookies. Browser plugins might be used in monitoring your activities on different sites too.
Financial Information
Whenever you engage in an online transaction, this information might require credentials for various financial services similar to your credit card details like expiry dates, security codes and card numbers. If ever you have to buy something online, make sure that you are transacting with trusted stores such as 랭킹닷컴. Because if you’d disregard this, you are giving cybercriminals an opening to steal your financial information and use your info in ways they deem fit.
Keep in mind, by the time that they have acquired these pieces of information, they can start initiating unauthorized transactions. They can clone your cards or the data may even be sold to the black market.