Information that can be used to identify an individual directly or indirectly, such as names, social security numbers, addresses, or biometric data, is known as Personally Identifiable Information (PII).
**Common Examples of Personally Identifiable Information (PII)**
In the digital age, understanding Personally Identifiable Information (PII) has become increasingly important. PII refers to any data that can be used on its own or with other information to identify, contact, or locate a single person [3][5]. Here are the most common examples of PII, grouped by type:
### Direct Identifiers
Direct identifiers are pieces of information that can directly identify an individual. Examples include:
- Full name, first name, last name, maiden name, mother’s maiden name, or aliases [1][5] - Social Security Number (SSN), passport number, driver’s license number, taxpayer identification number, patient identification number, credit card number, or financial account number [1][5] - Street address, email address [1] - Telephone number [1] - Personal characteristics: Photographic images (especially of the face), fingerprints, handwriting, and biometric data (such as facial recognition data) [1][3] - Information identifying personally owned property: Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), title number, or similar asset identifiers [1]
### Indirect and Contextual Identifiers
Indirect and contextual identifiers are pieces of information that, while not directly identifying, can provide clues that, when combined with other information, can help identify an individual. Examples include:
- Date of birth, place of birth [4] (while these are not unique alone, they become PII when combined with other information) - IP address or MAC address that consistently link to a particular person [1] - Job history, employment records, or employer details (especially in combination with other data) [3] - Education data, transcripts, or qualifications [3] - Internet browsing histories and online search queries (when tied to a specific individual) [3]
### Sensitive vs. Non-Sensitive PII
Sensitive PII is information that, if exposed, carries a high risk of identity theft, financial fraud, or other harm. This includes:
- Government ID numbers (SSN, passport, driver’s license) [3] - Financial account details (credit card, bank account numbers) [3] - Medical records (often also categorized as Protected Health Information, PHI) [3] - Biometric data (fingerprints, facial recognition) [3] - Racial, ethnic, or sexual orientation information (often considered sensitive, but not always PII) [3][4]
Non-sensitive PII might include information like a person’s name or work phone number, which are generally public but can become sensitive in certain contexts [4].
### What Is Not PII?
Some data, such as salary ranges, job grades, or aggregated statistics, is not considered PII unless it can be linked to a specific individual [4]. Medical data, race, religion, or sexual orientation are often sensitive but may not always be PII unless they can be used to uniquely identify someone [4].
### Summary Table
| Type | Example | Sensitivity | |-------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-------------------| | Direct Identifier | Full name, SSN, passport number, address, email | Varies | | Indirect | Date/place of birth, IP address, job history | Varies | | Biometric | Fingerprints, facial images | Sensitive | | Financial | Credit card, bank account numbers | Sensitive | | Health | Medical records | Highly sensitive | | Other | Race, religion, sexual orientation | Sensitive |
**Note:** Context is critical. Some seemingly harmless data points can become PII when combined, and organizations must carefully manage and protect such information to prevent misuse [1][4].
In 2023, more than 52% of all data breach incidents globally involved the exposure of customer PII, making it the most frequently breached type of data [6]. To protect PII, it's essential to provide ongoing training and education, secure devices, limit the use and retention of PII, and coordinate among relevant experts such as IT, legal, and compliance teams [2].
- To safeguard personal information in the digital era, it's crucial to understand the importance of cybersecurity, especially in fields like data-and-cloud-computing, as they often deal with Personally Identifiable Information (PII).
- In the pursuit of personal growth and self-development, one should be mindful of the technology used in education-and-self-development platforms, ensuring they prioritize cybersecurity to protect sensitive PII, includingepersonal data, biometric information, and financial details.
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