What is Sensitive Personal Information?: Examples + Tips

Michelle Wilson - January 1, 2023

Living in a digital world holds multiple benefits; it connects users worldwide, allows instant access to information, and offers convenience for mundane tasks. It also exposes users to extreme vulnerability, particularly concerning identity theft and data breaches. Knowing what sensitive personal information is and how to protect our data can minimize potential risks without sacrificing online access.

In this article, we’ll define sensitive personal information, different examples of datasets, and how to protect your details online from malicious actors.

Table of Contents

What is Sensitive Personal Information (SPI)?

Sensitive Personal Information (also known as SPI) is any information that helps identify an individual or their activities online and in the real world. These details can include complete names, banking details, addresses or contact information, insurance details, and individual biometrics.

The collection of Sensitive Personal Information has become critical in the digital realm, with organizations requiring extensive protection against theft or breach. Protective measures can help ensure personal identity and privacy is met while still taking advantage of modern technological advancement. All data security must comply with GDPR. A consumer also holds responsibility for the information and where it is stored.

Examples of Sensitive Personal Information and Their Uses

Sensitive personal information can include the following pieces of identification:

Biometrics: Biometric information include retinal or face scans and fingerprints. These security features are becoming increasingly popular for verifying identity, especially with the reliance on mobile technology. All biometrics are unique and can bypass traditional security measures. Although biometrics offer high levels of security, compromising these details can be catastrophic for secure accounts. Always safeguard these details and only provide them with trusted providers.

Personal Information: Your home address is considered SPI, as it’s often used to verify accounts. Likewise, malicious actors wanting to steal your identity will need to build a complete profile, starting with your mailing address. Similarly, your mobile number is attached to many online accounts or profiles. People use their phone numbers for account creation, which can put your device on the radar for spam calls. Phishing attempts are another method many criminals will deploy to separate you from your personal information online.

Social Media Accounts: As the popularity of social media continues to climb, criminals are quickly harvesting account information for malicious intent. Access to your social media can prove costly for friends and family, leaving their account connection open to theft. Always safeguard your account information, including passwords. When prompted, avoid social media login requests, especially when third-party applications ask for access to multiple components of your profile.

Credit Card Details: Your credit card numbers are considered SPI. Criminals can use these numbers to make unauthorized purchases or access accounts online. With account access, criminals can drain accounts, request new cards, change the personal details attached to the account, and request limit increases. All credit card information should be kept safe and only shared with trusted sources.

Account Passwords: Account passwords are sensitive personal information, granting access to protected user data. Depending on the data breach, account details may vary but may include online shopping sites, email accounts, financial institutions, and social media profiles. Creating strong passwords and two-step authentication can limit data transfer and compromise.

Social Security Number: The social security number is the most crucial sensitive information. It verifies identity, allows users to open personal accounts with financial institutions, and grants government benefits to all Americans. Keeping your SSN secure is critical to preventing identity theft.

Protecting Your Sensitive Personal Information Online

Everyone should take protecting their sensitive personal information seriously, as the devastation from identity theft can last for years. Here are a few simple steps you can take to keep your details safe:

Always update your online security regularly. Make sure all passwords are strong and unique, with a mix of numbers, letters, and symbols. When possible, use two-step authentication to secure the accounts. Keep all passwords secure online, and never give account access to anyone.

Recognize the data and information that criminals are likely to target and harvest. These accounts include financial details, Social Security numbers, personal information like addresses, social network accounts, and passwords.

Only offer your personal information to trusted sources. Never participate in online surveys, contests, or platforms requesting personal information disclosure to join. If you don’t know the company personally, research the platform before entering further information.

Understand that multiple companies will sell your information to the highest bidder. Many companies will compile a list of data for marketing purposes. To confirm which accounts do this, enter the company name as the middle name on your registration. For example, enter the name Jane AMAZON Doe on your profile if registering with Amazon. If you start seeing mail arrive with the middle name AMAZON, you’ll know the company sold your personal information.

Perform a background check on yourself periodically. A background check will compile a comprehensive list of all your activity over the last seven years (at least). By regularly reviewing these details, you can identify any fraudulent activity and quickly take action to shut it down before it becomes a problem.

Always check your financial accounts for any problems or issues. Look through monthly financial statements for suspicious activity, unknown charges, or other oddities. If you see any suspicious activity, report it immediately.

If protecting your sensitive personal information is the priority, knowing when it’s appropriate to share your details is critical. Financial institutions and rental accommodations will require your personal information to establish an account or profile. Always use a registered financial institution and ask them how a company or business might share your data.

Likewise, individuals registering for an account or business online will require an email address, phone number, or name to create the profile. These details are standard within the online industry and can be given if you trust the website. Always look for an updated privacy policy on the website and ensure that the company uses SSL for encryption.

Conclusion

As the world shifts to an online realm of information, sensitive personal information is becoming increasingly valuable. Protecting these details is mandatory, especially with malicious actors trying new tactics to deceive consumers daily. Awareness of the risks associated with data theft is critical to online security. Always use strong and secure passwords, closely monitor online activity, and research any questionable companies before sharing information is essential for keeping your data safe.

Although it’s occasionally necessary to share these details with others, consumers always have the right to decline to disclose personal information if they’re not comfortable. When in doubt, trust your gut and move on to a different website or service if the company is too invasive with its requests.