Protecting personal information
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What is personal information?
Personal information is any information or combination of information that enables the identification of an individual.
Personal information may include full name and address details, phone numbers, email addresses, usernames and passwords, bank details, student identity card details or passport details.
In the online world, personal information is used by many businesses to enable communication between trusted parties and to confirm the legitimacy of a user’s identity.
Personal information is disclosed to, and used responsibly by, many legitimate online businesses to conduct business and online social interactions. However, if not managed carefully, it is possible for personal information to be accessed and misused by criminals.
The disclosure of personal information online also impacts on an internet user’s digital or online reputation. Essentially, this digital reputation is the opinion that others hold about the user.
This section of the website aims to assist educators in understanding how personal information is used online and how students can manage their information to protect against misuse and to protect their digital reputations.
Other relevant content is included within the Protecting computers: e-security Common cybersafety issue which looks at how to protect computers from compromise by viruses and other malicious online programs. Also of interest may be the Unwanted Contact Common cybersafety Issue which looks at how the excessive disclosure of personal information online can result in unwanted contact.
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