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Are you worried about the increasing incidents of personal data being leaked online? Don't worry, in this article, Mytour will guide you through a quick and easy way to check if your personal information has been exposed on the internet.
I. What does it mean to have personal information exposed online?
The exposure of personal data online has become a widespread problem, causing significant concern, especially in Vietnam. Leaked information often serves as a tool for cybercriminals to carry out malicious activities on the internet. Currently, internet users in Vietnam are facing a huge issue with personal data leaks, with no specific solutions in sight to resolve it.
The exposure of personal information online refers to details such as National ID/ Citizen ID/ Address/ Passport/ Phone Number/ Email/ Contact Information/ Date of Birth/ Name/ Images… appearing on the internet without your consent. These details are exposed for unknown reasons, and the user has not authorized any parties to disclose this information online.
Example: Your citizen ID card appears on Google's image search without any redacted information.
Personal information is incredibly valuable, and everyone wants to protect it to avoid complications in life. However, when using unreliable platforms, your information is at a higher risk of being exposed, especially when you enter personal data on unsafe websites.
Generally, service providers have no intention of disclosing your personal details online. However, malicious actors often target large personal data centers on the internet, gaining access to vast amounts of user information. Once this data is in the wrong hands, it is sold on the black market. Currently, personal information is widely sold for prices ranging from 100,000-300,000 VND.
II. How to check if your personal information is exposed online
Currently, there is no specific way to fully control your data on the internet. However, there are some non-profit platforms that allow you to search for your personal information online to see if it has been exposed. Checking your personal information online is the quickest way to monitor and take steps to protect your data.
1. Check for data exposure using CyberNews
CyberNews is known as one of the best platforms for searching personal data, letting you know where your information appears on the internet. With CyberNews, you can find out if your phone number or email address has been misused by other platforms. Additionally, CyberNews will show you how many data platforms are currently using your personal information.
Step 1: Visit the homepage of CyberNews.
Step 2: Enter your phone number or email address into the search bar and click Check now to begin the check.
Step 3: If the system displays “You are safe for now”, it means your personal information is secure and has not been exposed on any online platforms.
If the system shows the result “Your data has been leaked,” it means your account's information has been exposed. Additionally, the system will indicate which platforms have your personal data.
2. Check for data exposure using NCSC
National Cyber Security Center - NCSC
The National Cyber Security Center - NCSC is responsible for monitoring centers and serves as the technical focal point for surveillance, supporting information security (IS) for citizens, businesses, and the Party and Government's information systems according to legal regulations.
Step 1: Visit the NCSC homepage and select the Data Breach section to perform the check.
Step 2: Next, enter your email address into the system and click Check to begin the search.
The system will provide you with comprehensive information about your personal data on the internet.
III. What to do if your personal information is exposed online?
When you find out that your personal information has been exposed online, many people often feel worried and seek ways to delete the leaked information. However, when dealing with a personal data breach on the internet, the solution is relatively difficult and requires persistence on your part.
1. Seek assistance through the information portal
The first thing you should do when discovering that your personal information has been exposed online is to identify which platform is leaking your data. Once you have identified the source of the leak, contact the platform to request help in removing your personal information.
For platforms that comply with legal regulations, they will not hesitate to help you remove the leaked information. However, fraudulent platforms will not assist you in removing your data and may even scam you by asking for payment to delete the exposed information. In such cases, you should avoid sending money to these criminals to prevent further loss.
2. Report your exposed personal information online
If you find that your personal information has been exposed online, you should proactively contact the relevant authorities or legal entities to get the best support. However, it can be difficult for law enforcement to assist you, as they must go through various procedures to confirm the source of the leaked information. Additionally, you need to gather enough evidence to provide to the authorities to facilitate a prompt investigation.
3. Delete exposed personal data from your accounts
In some cases, if you discover that your exposed information originates from accounts you have registered on certain websites, the solution becomes much simpler. You can visit the platforms that leaked your data and request to delete your account or update your information to enhance security.
IV. How to secure your personal information online
There are many different ways to secure your information online. Below are the most basic methods for securing your personal data on the internet that everyone should know.
- Use strong passwords: A password should be at least 12 characters long, with 16 characters being even better. It should include letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid using dictionary words as much as possible. Never reuse passwords, especially across different accounts, as hackers may try the same password on other accounts if they access one. Do not share your password with anyone, even those you trust, as they might accidentally reveal it or write it down somewhere.
- Use a password manager: These tools simplify the process of creating secure passwords for online accounts, ensuring high security. Every system is vulnerable to attacks, often due to weak passwords. A password manager forces you to stop using unsafe passwords effectively, reducing the chances of hackers gaining access to any of your accounts.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): This is one of the most important factors, as two-factor authentication successfully prevents 99.9% of unauthorized access attempts. 2FA requires two steps to verify that the person logging in is truly you, not someone else.
In this article, Mytour has shared with you how to quickly and accurately check your personal information on the internet. Have a great day!
