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The term digital identity is so suiting to who we really are online. Think about the accounts we log in to on a regular basis, the activities we perform each day, and the way we communicate with others; today most of our lives are digital. |
In a research study by Harris Polls on digital identities, commissioned by the computer security company of RSA, the most popular online accounts for consumers are e-mail, financial and banking, and entertainment or shopping. And on average, users access these online accounts from two different digital devices. But what does a digital identity really mean?
As an average consumer or online user here’s what I consider to be my digital identity – and perhaps make you think a little more about yours.
Financial identity: For most people, their financial identity is the one they treasure most for if a hacker takes over their bank account and steals the money in it, they’d be lost. Having said that, we often just attribute our financial identity to our bank accounts or credit cards because we use or access them almost every day. Have you thought about your stock account or payroll information? Or your flexible spending or savings account? As you can see, your financial identity extends well beyond just your bank account.
Personal identity: In a digital world, the two things most connected to our personal identities are our personal e-mails and social networking accounts. While we use our personal e-mails to sign up or register for almost everything from utility bills to e-commerce or news, we use our social networking accounts to share our personal lives and moments with friends and family. Despite the significance of these accounts, most people don’t realise the value these simple accounts hold to a criminal or hacker, but the hackers do.
For example, many online service providers notify users via e-mail of any changes on the account so if a hacker had access to your e-mail, they could go in and delete the notifications so you wouldn’t be suspicious. Trust me, this happens all the time!
Shopping identity: In a world where people most often turn to online shopping for great deals and last minute bargains most people have at least two dozen various online shopping identities that they use or have used in the past. Remember these accounts and identity is connected to one’s personal accounts and identity.
Online entertainment identity: Whether it’s watching videos online, listening to music or even playing the latest edition of Farmville, Angry Birds, and Age of Vampires among others, your entertainment identity or online gaming identity completes your digital identity. People often skip the importance of these identities, easily forgetting that whether it’s YouTube or a game you most often need to sign up using your personal e-mail, tying these accounts to your personal identity.
According to the Harris research, the average adult creates about two new online accounts every year, but I think it’s many more than that. We just don’t realise it because many are “one-time use” accounts – like the ones we create to subscribe to make that rare purchase or sign up for a new service.
The problem is that we are likely using the same usernames, e-mail address, and passwords that we use to log in to our everyday accounts like our online banking account. The reality and the risk: most small merchants don’t have the same security in place to protect your personal information that Amazon, Google or even a big bank does. And with small merchants such a high value target for cyber crime, just one small breach could translate into your digital identity being compromised across multiple sites you access every day.
Be mindful every time you are asked to create an online account. If it is one that will be used only once or rarely, give yourself a very unique username and password. And to make it better (possibly stay safer) also make sure you change the passwords to your major online accounts on a regular basis (about every 90 days).
♦ Heidi Bleau is RSA’s senior marketing programs manager. RSA, a division of EMC Corporation, is an American computer and network security company.