How to protect your data: 10 smart ways to protect personal information

In today’s digital age, where information is constantly shared and stored, safeguarding your personal data points has become paramount. Your personal data is sacred, and therefore needs to be protected properly. Cybercriminals look at you as a collection of data points, hoping to gather one after another so they can figuratively construct your identity and steal it.

Let’s go over the most common data points cybercriminals look for, as well as how to best protect this information so it doesn’t end up in the wrong hands.

What data points do you need to protect?

Cybercriminals are looking for these data points:

• Usernames
• Passwords
• Date of birth
• Social security number
• Bank account numbers
• Driver's license number
• Credit/debit card numbers
• Home address
• Cell phone number
• Answers to common security questions
• Email addresses

Your usernames and passwords — particularly to your online banking — are the gateways to your personal information that need the most protection.

Having one or more of these data points unprotected leaves you vulnerable to identity theft. The more information fraudsters have, the better the chance they have of successfully stealing your identity.

How can you protect these data points?

Here are ten tips to help protect your most sensitive data points:

1. Change usernames and passwords regularly and don’t use the same login information from one website to the next. A password manager can help you safely and securely manage your passwords in one centralized location.
2. Use passphrases instead of passwords. Think “SummerIsTheBest2” instead of “Summer2.” These are much more difficult for fraudsters to hack. Or, you could use a password generator to create a strong password.
3. Don’t make transactions or access sensitive information on public Wi-Fi networks. Only do so on encrypted networks you know and trust, like your home network or a VPN (virtual private network).
4. Avoid clicking on links within text messages or emails from numbers and email addresses you don’t trust. These could be phishing scams.
5. Be careful what information you share on social media. Cybercriminals can monitor what you post to get answers to frequently asked security questions, like your date of birth, the name of your street, or your mother’s maiden name.
6. Fraudsters can create nearly identical copies of login pages to steal information. Always check that the URL is legitimate, and when in doubt it is best to access the login page directly from citizensbank.com.
7. Never give personal data over the phone. Hang up and find the customer service phone number of the company that allegedly is calling you for your information. They’ll let you know if they had called or not.
8. When you receive suspicious emails, check the sending party’s email address to see if it’s legitimate before clicking on any links.
9. Be sure to keep your antivirus software up to date on all your devices. Securing your phone can also be achieved by regularly updating the operating system when notified to do so.
10. Use two-factor authentication whenever possible. This added layer of security will help keep your information extra safe.

Is it safe to use third-party financial apps?

Sharing your account information with finance tools is a convenient way to manage your money. However, the ways in which some of these companies store sensitive data like your transaction history could put your personal info at risk. Please review the privacy policies of any tool you’re considering linking your account to so you can make an informed decision about your data. When you share your account information with another company, the use of your data is typically determined by your agreement with that company and not with your bank.

It’s also important to know that there are two parties involved when you share your data. The first is a finance tool like NerdWallet or Venmo. These tools ask for your account info so they can offer their full services.

The second party is a data aggregator that gathers your data on behalf of the first party. They act as the intermediary between your bank account and your account with the finance tool.

What to remember

None of these tips — or any, for that matter — are guaranteed to keep your data secure. You could follow all of these and still have something like your credit card number compromised. However, these tips will help you do the best you can to prevent your sensitive information from ending up in the wrong hands.

Be ready to defend yourself against fraud

We're committed to providing you the resources to be safe in our increasingly digital world, so you're made ready to move forward in unexpected times. To learn more about keeping your online accounts secure, please visit our cybersecurity center.