Privacy: Your Life Should Not Be an Open Book

By Valarie R. Austin, October 4th, 2022, 10:30 AM EDT

(Published Previously on LinkedIn)

Businesses, educational institutions and work places are replacing face-to-face interactions and telephone calls that are considered archaic and time-consuming with texts, emails, online video conferencing and web portals. As more business exchanges and communication are digitized, it makes privacy information more susceptible to compromise and data breaches. Sensitive information such as driver’s license, bank account, medical records, insurance account, Federal Student Aid ID, social security and credit card numbers are uniquely linked to individuals’ identities. Sensitive personal data should be protected similarly to the safeguarding of computer usernames and passwords. IDStrong.com reported over 1.4 million people are victims of identity theft each year and it is common among college students. Navy Federal Credit Union defines identity theft as an individual using another person’s information to obtain medical care, get a job, open credit card accounts, or receive Internal Revenue Service (IRS) refunds. Identity theft can wreak havoc on a person’s life. In this increasingly digital age, young adults, especially college students, should be concerned about data privacy and safeguarding their personal information.

College students are susceptible to identity theft because school and company entities often request sensitive information to establish the young adults’ eligibility for loans, credit cards, financial aid, medical insurance, etc. DataProt.net documented well-known data breaches by companies such as Yahoo!, Equifax, Facebook and Marriot Hotels. Unlike company data breaches, young people willingly give out sensitive information through “intake forms” that request social security numbers, addresses, telephone numbers and other identifying information. Some companies request individuals return intake forms via email, which is not secure. The return recipients may be anonymous, unreliable and dishonest people on the distribution list. EntCredit Union lists online scams that prey on college students. They are scholarship/financial aid, credit card, unpaid tuition, fake job offers, public Wi-FI and textbook scams. Young adults should ask institutions why they need their sensitive information and how it will be used. Money Care, LLC suggests asking the company/entity 1) to use an assigned number for identification instead of using a social security and 2) what protocols are in place to protect sensitive personal information. Or, the young adult should choose to leave sensitive data such as a social security number blank on the form.

Young adults use social media, apps, and various platforms that offer digital commerce, communication and connection with others. StudentPrivacyCompass.org reported a 2018 Pew Research Center survey found that young adult Americans, aged 18 to 24 years old, use social media platforms, specifically, YouTube (94%), Facebook (80%), Snapchat (78%), Instagram (71%), and Twitter (45%). Social media allows people to connect but the danger arises when it pinpoints an individual’s location, daily itinerary, telephone number, photos, or other tracking data. For example, in September 2022, a gunman robbed and murdered Rapper PnB also known as Rakim Hasheem Allen at a Los Angeles restaurant. In real-time, the gunman used Allen’s exact location, which was tagged in an online social media post, to stalk him according to NewsWeek.com. Young adults must be careful in the personal information they post on social media. Such information permits tracking and possible identity theft by individuals who monitor social media websites.

Although uninhibited social media posts may pose a threat, acquaintances can also use friendly exchanges to steal from unsuspecting targets. College students interact with roommates, new friends, study partners and classmates who may obtain unmonitored access to dorm rooms, apartments and other living quarters. In my book, “The Student’s Comprehensive Guide for College & Other Life Lessons,” I urge young adults to have frank conversations with their roommates to safeguard against friends or strangers gaining unauthorized entry to their shared dorm room. Credit card statements, bank statements, pre-approved credit card offers, tax documents, social security numbers, etc. should not be left open for others to see and/or steal. They should be stored away in a secured lock box or shredded. Unsecured laptops and phones without password protection are typically valuable repositories for sensitive data. Personal information is a gift that keeps giving as a thief opens accounts and makes purchases that can destroy a person’s credit/reputation. Unsecured mailboxes on campuses may also be targets for theft of personal information. Students should drop off mail for delivery at the post office instead of a campus mail room. They might also consider paying for a post-office box for mail pick-up or sending sensitive mail to a parent’s address.

Below are practical ways to protect sensitive personal information:

1. Check your credit history through AnnualCreditReport.com. The website states federal law requires Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies, to provide a free credit report every 12 months.
2. Report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission and the police. Submit a request for a fraud alert or credit freeze of your credit report through one of the three credit report companies. In its pamphlet, the Social Security Administration recommends that individuals should contact them if they suspect someone else is using their social security number for work purposes. Contact companies that may have your social security number due to fraud in order to submit a dispute. If a tax return has been fraudulently filed on your behalf, you should contact the IRS according to its website.
3. Institute two-factor authentication and strong passwords on financial accounts. Protect bank account numbers, credit/debit cards, pins, usernames and passwords. Check your credit, debit and bank statements for unexplained/suspicious transactions to notify banks in a timely manner of fraudulent activity. Institute transaction alerts for large or unusual purchases/withdrawals on accounts. Be cautious in using peer-to-peer payment services such as Zelle due to incidents of fraud and scams according to an NBC4i.com article.
4. Only connect with known individuals on social media, control privacy settings and limit private information such as full name and address.
5. Use strong passwords on social media accounts, laptops and personal telephones.
6. Download apps from legitimate websites because some free apps may contain malware to capture sensitive data. Be careful in authorizing apps’ permissions to access phone contacts, location, etc.
7. Do not give out personal/sensitive information to companies or entities that contact you over the phone or in text. Do not click on links in emails and texts. If necessary, contact the company on a valid website or well-known telephone number associated with the company/entity. Shop online wisely by making sure websites are correct and use proper encryption i.e., https// instead of http://.


College should be a great time to be independent. You will have the opportunity to buy things that you want within reason; interact with new and interesting people; and conduct business as an adult. The threat of identity theft, however, needs to loom large in the back of your mind.  Critical thinking and skepticism are skills that you need to learn in order to protect yourself. If there is a question about giving out your personal information, do not bow to pressure. Stop, take a breath and if necessary contact a trusted adult in your life to verify if the action of giving out your personal information is appropriate. Being forewarned is to be forearmed.

Have a great semester!

Valarie R. Austin is the author of The Student’s Comprehensive Guide for College & Other Life Lessons. She has a wealth of knowledge on the subjects of career and college preparation. She also conducts career and college readiness workshops for high school students and parents. Check out her author’s pages on https://www.linkedin/in/valarie-r-austin, https://www.goodreads.com/valarie_r_austin and https://www.amazon.com/author/valarie_r_austin. A Youtube.com review of her book can found at https://youtu.be/xy_GSHlJsa0. This article was edited by Raffie Johnson. Copyright 2022, Vauboix Publishing LLC. Like, comment and/or share this article! (Article 3 of 5, fall 2022)