What is confidential data?

Confidential data is personal identifiable information (PII) that you don't want anyone to obtain without your permission.  This may include

• Social Security number
• Phone numbers of friends/family/colleagues/students
• Driver's license numbers
• Bank account numbers
• Tax information
• Passwords or passphrases
• Home address or phone numbers
• Employee ID number
• Digital images
• Any personal electronic documents containing personal text

What risks are involved?
If any PII information you are storing is stolen, the perpetrator could alter the information and use it to commit identity theft.

What can I do to protect myself?

• Only store confidential information on your computer if it is absolutely necessary.
• Secure any portable media (CD, flash drive) in a locked cabinet when it is not being used. Once not needed have the media shredded.
• Encrypt files containing PII. Most operating system provides some type of data encryption. Refer to your operating system for instructions.
• Physically secure your computer (laptop or desktop) to the desk where it sits.
• Set your computer to ask you for an account password at login
• Disable the "Guest" account.  The use of this account can be untraceable.