9 tips for protecting your personal data

Staying connected can help keep us informed and entertained, whether we're reading market updates, reconnecting with friends from around the world, or watching our favorite show. But all this convenience can also put us at risk of being targeted by cyber criminals—which can lead to identity theft, damage to our credit, and emotional stress.

Chances are, you’ve already taken some precautions: You don’t share passwords or personal info, you lock your devices, and maybe you even have some antivirus software and know all about social engineering scams.

But as hackers and malware become more sophisticated, these personal data protection tips can help you protect yourself against identity theft.

1. Turn off devices when you’re not using them.

When you leave your phone, computer, tablet, or even smart TV on and connected to the internet, you may be leaving yourself vulnerable to security breaches. A powered-off computer will always be safer from online hackers than one in sleep mode.^{Disclosure 1}

2. Try passphrases—not just passwords.

Passphrases are typically longer than a standard password, and they may be easier to remember and more secure against cyber threats.^{Disclosure 2} A passphrase is a sequence of four or more words, with each word having four or more letters. Some examples include “table chair book candle” or “tablechairbookcandle.”

To help you come up with stronger passwords or passphrases, keep these best practices in mind:

• Typically, more characters means a stronger password or passphrase—which makes it harder for hackers to access your information.
• Remember: Any passphrase or password you use should avoid personal details, like birthdays or pet names.
• Consider using a password manager. This will allow you to log in securely without a password and keep all your passwords and passphrases in one safe place.

3. Pay with your phone.

Using a digital wallet for purchases may actually be safer than paying with your physical credit card, according to PCMag.^{Disclosure 3} Why? The app will create a one-time authentication code that is good for only one specific transaction. That makes it less likely that anyone could steal that code and use it for other purchases, potentially harming your credit.

Using your phone for purchases can also be an effective way to protect yourself from card skimmers and fake terminals that may be set up to steal your credit card details. And if you set your digital wallet to require a biometric verification, like Face ID, it’ll help keep your digital wallet locked in case your phone is ever lost or stolen.

4. Update software regularly.

Software updates are essential for patching security vulnerabilities—and they can also make your programs perform better.^{Disclosure 4} Turning on auto-updates for your phone, software, and apps may help make keeping them up to date easier.

5. Stick to secure sites.

To help keep browsing and shopping safer, make sure the sites you visit and submit information to have “https” at the beginning of their URL. The “s” at the end of "http" stands for secure. This means the site will encrypt any information gathered into code, which helps prevent other people from accessing your data.^{Disclosure 5}

6. Use multiple email accounts.

Maintaining multiple email accounts can be a way to help protect yourself against identity theft. Some experts recommend using various email accounts to create a natural barrier against cyber threats: If one of your accounts gets compromised, it doesn’t have all your info on everything—significantly reducing the overall impact on your digital life.^{Disclosure 6}

With so many free-to-use email services available, setting up multiple accounts shouldn’t cost you anything. An alternative to managing multiple accounts is to use alias email services like Apple’s Hide My Email or Proton Mail to generate temporary email addresses.

7. Sign instead of using your PIN.

Whenever possible, choose to process your debit card as a credit card transaction. There won’t be much difference in the transaction process—money will still come directly out of your checking account just like a normal debit card purchase—but it adds an extra layer of protection when you sign instead of entering your PIN. It may take a few seconds longer, but it also makes it harder for thieves to steal your card number.^{Disclosure 7}

8. Wipe unused devices.

Before recycling or donating your old phone, tablet, or computer, make sure to erase all sensitive information so you don’t accidentally pass your personal data to whoever ends up with your device next. Follow these steps:

• Back up any important data.
• Remove the SIM and SD cards.
• Wipe it of your personal information.
• Set it back to factory settings.

9. Keep an eye on your accounts and credit activity.

Another important way to protect yourself is to regularly check for possible data leaks or security breaches. These tips can help you monitor your accounts effectively:

• Set up text or email alerts for account withdrawals and logins
• Report any suspicious activity regarding your financial accounts and credit reports
• Use dark web monitoring services and websites that offer data breach notifications
• Establish parental controls for when your kids are using devices
• Offer guidance to help kids develop smart and safe online habits
• Help older parents or family members monitor their statements and online activity
• Stay educated on social engineering scams
• Be cautious of public charging stations. Some can be used to steal your data, known as “juice jacking”

There are so many ways you can put your privacy in your own hands. Being proactive in just a few of these ways may help you stay safer.