Ifsm 201

Protecting Personal Information (PPI) and Identity Theft

By

IFSM 201

Concepts and Applications of Information Technology

Research Paper

Due

In this paper, the two (2) types Personally Identifiably Information or PII as well as Identity Theft will both be defined and explained as it relates to the use of information technology. There are several reasons why protecting an individual’s personally identifiable information, one of the most critical being against identity theft.

As defined by the United State Department of Homeland Security in its published online handbook, “personal information as “Personally Identifiable Information” or PII, which is any information in that permits the identity of an individual to be directly or indirectly inferred, including any information that is linked or linkable to that individual, regardless of whether the individual is a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, visitor to the U.S., or employee or contractor to the Department.

Sensitive PII is Personally Identifiable Information, which if lost, compromised, or disclosed without authorization, could result in substantial harm, embarrassment, inconvenience, or unfairness to an individual.” (www.dhs.gov/privacy, 2012)

Simplified, Personally Identifiable Information or PII or information is a something that directly identifies or links an individual to another. Examples include, but are not limited to, social security numbers, driver’s license numbers, passport numbers, alien registrations numbers, medical record numbers, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, and addresses. Additional information with combined with another can also be used to identify someone. These include addresses, vehicle license plates numbers, phone numbers, and dates of birth.

Personally identifiable information is used for a many important reasons. To apply for a driver’s license, employment, home loans, credit cards, open bank accounts, insurance, college,...