You protect your personal information online by locking down your accounts with strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication, limiting what you share, securing your devices and connection, removing your data from broker sites, and monitoring for fraud.
No single step makes you invisible online, but layering these habits together makes you a much harder target.
Key Takeaways
Strong, unique passwords and 2FA are your foundation. NIST's updated 2026 guidance recommends passwords of at least 15 characters when a password is your only login protection.
Oversharing is one of the easiest ways to get exposed. Birthdates, check-ins and photos can hand scammers the answers to your own security questions.
You can now request deletion from hundreds of data brokers at once. California's new DROP tool lets residents send a single deletion request to more than 600 registered data brokers.
Stolen data can't be fully erased, but you can make it useless. Changing passwords, enabling 2FA and freezing your credit blunts the value of exposed information.
Monitoring catches what prevention misses. Account alerts, credit monitoring and a fraud alert or credit freeze can flag misuse before it spirals.
Speed matters if your data leaks. Acting within hours, not days, meaningfully limits the damage.
Summary generated by AI, verified by MoneyLion editors
What Counts as Personal Information Online?
Personal information is any data that can identify or impersonate you, let someone contact you, or be used to make decisions about you. Common categories include:
Identification details. Your name, birthdate, Social Security number, passport number or driver's license number can all identify you.
Contact information. Your phone number, mailing address and email fall into this category.
Financial information. Credit card numbers, account numbers and income are sensitive financial data points.
Login information. Usernames, passwords, PINs and security answers can unlock everything else.
Health information. Medical records, prescriptions and insurance details are sensitive and often targeted.
Location data. Your devices may let apps and companies track where you go through GPS.
How Does Your Personal Information Get Exposed?
There are several common paths your information can end up in the wrong hands:
Data breaches. Companies, retailers and other vendors store your information, and a hack at any of them can expose your data to scammers.
Oversharing. Posting birthdates, photos and check-ins can hand someone the answers to your own security questions.
Phishing scams. A scammer poses as a bank, merchant or government agency over text, email or phone to get your card number, PIN or login.
Public Wi-Fi. Unsecured networks can expose logins and passwords entered while connected.
Malware. Malicious software from a download or link can record keystrokes and credentials.
How Do You Protect Your Personal Information Online?
A handful of habits cover most of what you need:
Use unique passwords for every account.
Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA).
Avoid public Wi-Fi, or use a VPN when you can't.
Avoid sharing too many personal details.
Don't click links you don't recognize.
Keep your software updated.
Monitor your accounts regularly.
Method | What It Protects | How To Start |
|---|---|---|
Unique passwords | Helps prevent your logins from being guessed | Create long, unique passwords or passphrases for every account |
2FA | Adds a second layer even if your password is compromised | Enable it in your account's security settings |
Phishing awareness | Keeps hackers from harvesting your credentials or financial info | Never click a link or attachment you didn't expect |
VPN | Keeps your data from being intercepted on public Wi-Fi | Install a reputable VPN and turn it on before connecting |
Security software | Guards against malware | Install reputable antivirus or endpoint protection |
App permission review | Protects your contacts, location and photos | Regularly audit and revoke app permissions you no longer need |
How Do You Create Strong Passwords and Turn On 2FA?
A few approaches make this easier than it sounds:
Use a password manager. A password manager like 1Password or Dashlane generates a unique password for every account, so you only have to remember one master password.
Use a passphrase for accounts you use often. A phrase built from unrelated words is longer and harder to guess than a single short word, while remaining memorable.
Take advantage of passkeys where they're offered. Passkeys let you sign in with a fingerprint or face scan instead of typing anything at all.
Password length matters more than most people realize. NIST updated its official password guidance in August 2026, and its current standard, SP 800-63B, recommends a minimum of 15 characters for any password used as your only login protection, with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency recommending 16 or more characters as a stronger everyday target. Length now matters more than cramming in symbols: a long passphrase built from ordinary words beats a short, "complex" password almost every time.
Do This | Don't Do This |
|---|---|
Use a unique password with a mix of letters, numbers and characters | Reuse the same password across multiple accounts |
Aim for at least 15 to 16 characters | Use a short word as your password |
Use a password manager to generate a different password for every account | Write passwords in a spreadsheet, notebook or unprotected note |
Choose passwords that aren't easy to guess | Rely on personal information like birthdays or pet names |
Use 2FA whenever it's available | Ignore more secure sign-in options like passkeys |
How Do You Lock Down Your Privacy Settings and Social Media?
It's tempting to overshare, but a few adjustments limit how much of your life is visible to strangers:
Set your profile to "private." This keeps strangers from seeing the details of your personal or professional life.
Control who sees your posts. Don't stick with the default public setting; switch to friends only.
Remove personal details from public-facing profiles. Leave your birthday, location and other identifying details off your bio.
Turn off location sharing. Disabling it stops people from tracking when you're home or away.
Control your message requests. Only allow requests from people you actually know.
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How Do You Remove Your Personal Information From the Internet?
You can meaningfully reduce your footprint, but you won't be able to erase it entirely. A few concrete steps:
Use Google's "Results About You" tool. This free tool lets you monitor Google Search results for your contact information and request removal. Google expanded it in February 2026 to also cover government-issued ID numbers like your Social Security number, passport number or driver's license number, not just your name, address and phone number.
Opt out of people-search and data broker sites. Visit each site's opt-out page, request removal of your listing and confirm the removal went through.
If you're a California resident, use the state's DROP tool. California's Delete Request and Opt-Out Platform, which launched in 2026, lets you submit a single deletion request that reaches more than 600 registered data brokers at once, rather than opting out of each one individually. Data brokers are required to process these requests on a rolling basis, and you can track your request status with the ID you receive.
Set up dark web monitoring. Enter your email at a breach-lookup tool like Have I Been Pwned to see if it's turned up in a known data breach.
Stolen data can't be fully erased, so the goal is to make it useless. You can change passwords, set up 2FA and freeze your credit, all of which reduce what a thief can actually do with information that's already out there.
How Do You Monitor for Identity Theft and Fraud?
Catching a problem early limits the damage:
Set up account alerts. Real-time notifications flag a fraudulent transaction as soon as it happens.
Use credit monitoring. Credit monitoring can alert you to a new account opened in your name, a sudden score drop or a hard inquiry you don't recognize, which matters since a drop out of good credit territory (670 to 739) or fair territory (580 to 669) is often one of the first visible signs something's wrong.
Use a fraud alert. A fraud alert tells lenders to verify your identity before approving new credit in your name, though they can still view your report.
Employ a credit freeze. A credit freeze blocks lenders from viewing your report at all, so they can't issue new financing in your name until you lift it.
What Should You Do if Your Personal Information Is Leaked?
Once you learn your information has been leaked, move fast:
Change your passwords immediately, starting with anything tied to email, banking or your password manager.
Contact the affected creditor, bank or lender and let them know so they can freeze the account against further charges.
Enable 2FA on any account where it isn't already turned on.
Place a credit freeze or fraud alert, depending on how serious the exposure is; see how to freeze your credit if you decide that's the right move.
Review your credit reports regularly. You're entitled to a free report from each bureau every week.
Report identity theft to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov to generate a personalized recovery plan.
If your Social Security number specifically was part of the leak, our guide on what to do if someone has your SSN covers the additional steps worth taking. It's also worth reviewing how to protect your bank account from identity theft and understanding the broader types of financial fraud to recognize follow-on attempts, including bank impersonation scams that sometimes follow a leak.
How Do You Back Up Your Data and Retire Old Devices Safely?
Protecting your information isn't only about accounts you actively use. Two habits close a gap most people overlook:
Back up important data regularly. A cloud backup or an external drive kept separate from your main device protects you if malware, theft or hardware failure wipes out your primary copy.
Wipe old devices before you sell, donate or recycle them. A factory reset alone doesn't always remove everything. Sign out of every account, remove memory cards and SIM cards, and use your device's built-in secure-erase feature before letting go of a phone, tablet or computer.
The Bottom Line
The single most important habit for protecting your personal information online is layering your defenses rather than relying on one fix: unique passwords, 2FA, cautious sharing and regular monitoring, backed by a plan for what to do if something slips through.
If your accounts are ever compromised, act fast: notify your bank or lender, choose between a credit freeze and fraud alert, and report identity theft to the FTC.
Key Terms
Two-factor authentication (2FA): A security step that requires a second form of verification beyond your password, like a code sent to your phone.
Passkey: A digital credential that lets you sign in using a fingerprint or facial recognition instead of a password.
Data broker: A company that collects and sells personal information about consumers, often without their direct knowledge.
Dark web monitoring: A service or tool that checks whether your personal information has appeared in a known data breach or on dark web marketplaces.
Fraud alert: A flag on your credit file that requires lenders to verify your identity before extending new credit.
Credit freeze: A free tool that blocks lenders from accessing your credit report, preventing new accounts from being opened in your name.
Phishing: A scam that uses fake emails, texts or calls to trick you into revealing personal or financial information.
Summary generated by AI, verified by MoneyLion editors
Sources
Federal Trade Commission: Protect Your Personal Information From Hackers and Scammers
Federal Trade Commission: Use Two-Factor Authentication To Protect Your Accounts
NIST: Special Publication 800-63B, Digital Identity Guidelines
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency: Password Guidance
California Privacy Protection Agency: Delete Request and Opt-Out Platform (DROP)
Google: Find and Remove Personal Info in Google Search Results
Summary generated by AI, verified by MoneyLion editors
FAQ
Here are quick answers to common questions about protecting personal information online.
How can I keep my personal information private online?
Use strong, unique passwords, enable 2FA, limit oversharing on social media and avoid public Wi-Fi without a VPN. Layering these habits together closes most of the common ways personal information gets exposed.
What's the safest way to store my passwords?
A password manager is the safest way to store your passwords, since you only need to remember one strong master password while the manager generates and stores a unique password for every other account.
Is my information on the dark web, and how do I check?
If you've used the internet extensively, there's a real chance some of your information has surfaced in a breach. You can check a free tool like Have I Been Pwned to see if your email address is associated with a known data breach.
Does using a VPN really protect my personal information?
A VPN is a good start, especially on public Wi-Fi, but it won't protect you from data breaches, malware, phishing or data brokers. Think of it as one layer of protection, not a complete solution.
How do I get my personal information removed from Google or data broker sites?
For Google, use the "Results About You" tool to request removal of search results containing your contact details or government ID numbers. For data broker sites, opt out through each site's page, or, if you live in California, submit a single request through the state's DROP tool to reach hundreds of registered brokers at once.
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Disclosures
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. You should consult your own financial, legal, and tax advisors before engaging in any transaction. Information, including hypothetical projections of finances, may not take into account taxes, commissions, or other factors which may significantly affect potential outcomes. This material should not be considered an offer or recommendation to buy or sell a security. While information and sources are believed to be accurate, MoneyLion does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information or source provided herein and is under no obligation to update this information. For more information about MoneyLion, please visit https://www.moneylion.com/terms-and-conditions/.