Privacy and Personal Information — Protecting What’s Yours

Why Privacy Matters

Every time you post, shop, or sign up online, you share a bit of yourself. Over time, that trail of data — your birthday, address, even your pet’s name — builds a digital picture. Scammers love that picture because it helps them guess passwords, target scams, or even open fake accounts in your name.

Privacy and Personal Information - How it Gets Stolen

Sometimes it’s as simple as a social media post that reveals too much. Other times, a company’s data is hacked, and your information ends up for sale. Even those “fun” online quizzes can be designed to gather personal clues.

Social media posts may seem harmless, but they are a leading source of privacy and personal information, usually given willingly and without a thought for the consequences.

Protecting Your Information

Be mindful about what you share online. Review your privacy settings regularly and use strong, unique passwords for every account. When possible, turn on two-factor authentication.

Avoid storing sensitive details like Medicare numbers or banking info in plain text — especially on your phone or computer.

If Your Data’s Been Misused

If you think your identity has been compromised, contact IDCARE — Australia’s free national identity support service. They’ll guide you through what to do next and provide you with plenty of information. Keep an eye on your bank and credit reports, and report stolen IDs to Services Australia to prevent someone from claiming government payments in your name. You should also report the matter to your local Police, since they are likely to be tracking this sort of activity in your area.

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Quick Check: Protecting Your Privacy

✅ Do:

• Review your social media privacy settings.

• Use strong, unique passwords.

• Enable two-factor authentication.

• Contact IDCARE for support.

🚫 Don’t:

• Overshare personal details online.

• Use the same password everywhere.

• Ignore suspicious account activity.