The importance of identifying Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in cybersecurity
Imagine a world without any digital footprint. No emails, no social media, no online banking, and no e-commerce. Sounds unimaginable, right? The reason we can enjoy these online luxuries is due to the vast amount of data that we have at our fingertips. However, this convenience comes at a cost. With every interaction, we are continuously submitting our Personally Identifiable Information (PII) to various networks and systems, making us vulnerable to cybersecurity threats. This is where the importance of identifying PII comes in.
What is Personally Identifiable Information (PII)?
PII comprises any information that can be used to identify an individual uniquely. This includes a person’s name, address, date of birth, social security number, email address, phone number, or any other information that can be directly or indirectly used to identify someone. When we share this information online, we give away a piece of ourselves, which can be exploited by cybercriminals.
Why is the identification of PII crucial for cybersecurity?
The collection of PII is becoming increasingly valuable to cybercriminals, as it can be used to commit various cyber-attacks, such as identity theft, phishing scams, and ransomware attacks.
Identity theft is one of the most prevalent cyber-attacks today. It occurs when cybercriminals obtain enough of your PII to impersonate you and gain unauthorized access to your bank accounts, credit cards, or other personal information. By identifying PII, we can better protect ourselves from this type of theft.
Phishing scams and ransomware attacks are other examples of cyber-attacks that can result in a loss of personal information. Identifying PII can help individuals and organizations recognize when an email or message is a phishing scam, reducing the likelihood of falling for the scam and exposing sensitive information.
The identification of PII is equally crucial for businesses and organizations. By identifying what PII they are collecting, businesses can develop strategies to protect this information from unauthorized access and minimize the risk of data breaches.
Examples of how the identification of PII has helped in cybersecurity
The importance of identifying PII is best illustrated through real-life examples. One such example is the breach that occurred at Equifax in 2017. The breach exposed the PII of 143 million individuals to cybercriminals. If Equifax had identified and properly secured their PII, this breach could have been prevented.
Another example is the healthcare industry. The healthcare industry collects vast amounts of PII that needs to be protected. In 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services imposed a $6.8 million fine on Premera Blue Cross for failing to identify and protect their PII, resulting in a data breach affecting 10.4 million individuals.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the identification of PII is crucial for both individuals and organizations. By understanding what PII is and taking steps to secure it, we can protect ourselves from the ever-increasing threat of cyber-attacks. The identification of PII is the first step in developing a robust security strategy that protects us from the growing number of cybersecurity threats.
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