Is a Phone Number Considered PII?

When we talk about protecting personal data, the term “Personally Identifiable Information” or PII comes up a lot. However, not all pieces of information are always clear-cut when it comes to whether they count as PII.

A good example is a phone number. It seems like something personal, but whether it’s legally considered PII can depend on the situation. In the blog, we’ll take a closer look at whether a phone number is classified as PII, and what it means if any of your PII, including your phone number, is compromised.

What is PII (Personally Identifiable Information)?

Personally identifiable information (PII) refers to any data that can be used to identify you, either directly or indirectly, which includes details such as your name, email address, phone number, bank account number, and government-issued identification numbers.

In simple words, any piece of information that can be linked to a specific person falls under the umbrella of PII.

What are the Two Main Types of PII?

According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), PII can be distinguished as follows:

1. Direct identifiers are data elements that alone are sufficient to uniquely identify a person. Examples include a full name, passport number, or biometric data such as a fingerprint. These pieces of information, on their own, pinpoint a specific individual without the need for additional context.
2. Indirect identifiers, also known as linked or linkable information, do not uniquely identify a person by themselves but can do so when combined with other data. For example, knowing that someone has a rare job title, like “chief robotics engineer at a specific company,” may not be identifying on its own, but when combined with additional details, such as their city of residence, it could narrow the field to a single person.

Why is a Phone Number Considered PII?

A phone number is often registered to a person’s name and is frequently linked to other identifying information in databases, such as billing addresses, email accounts, and contact lists. This direct association makes it a clear personal identifier. Plus, your phone number provides a direct line of communication, making it possible to reach, track, or target you through calls, text messages, or messaging apps. This makes it sensitive to personal data.

Various privacy regulations explicitly categorize phone numbers as PII. For instance, under laws such as the U.S. California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), phone numbers are recognized as personal data because they can identify or be linked to your identity.

Also, if a phone number is exposed to a data breach, it can be exploited for spam, phishing attacks, identity fraud, or even social engineering schemes. These risks treat phone numbers as sensitive information that needs protection.

What is PII, Non-PII, and Personal Data?

6 Reasons Why You Should Protect Your PII and Personal Data?

Your personal information is more valuable than you might think, not just to you, but also to cybercriminals, marketers, and other parties who might misuse it. You must protect your PII to:

1. Prevent Identity Theft and Financial Fraud

If someone gets access to key personal details like your Social Security number, date of birth, or bank information, they can impersonate you, open accounts in your name, or steal your money. Once identity theft happens, it can take months or years to fully recover.

2. Avoid Phishing and Social Engineering Attacks

The more personal information about you that’s publicly available or leaked, the easier it is for attackers to target you for scams, phishing emails, or phone calls that trick you into giving away more sensitive information or money.

3. Protect Your Privacy and Limit Unwanted Tracking

Your phone number, email address, and browsing habits are valuable to marketers and data brokers. If you don’t protect them carefully, your data can be used to track your behavior, target you with ads, or even be sold to third parties without your knowledge.

4. Reduce Long-Term Risk From Data Breaches

Even if you trust the companies you interact with, their databases can be hacked. The less unnecessary PII you share or leave exposed online, the less data there is to be leaked if those breaches happen.

5. Maintain Control Over Your Digital Footprint

Everything you share online, from your birthday on social media to photos and location data, adds up to a digital profile of you. Being mindful about what you share helps you maintain control over how you’re represented and limits how much others know about you.

6. It’s Easier to Prevent Than to Fix

Once your PII is exposed or misused, it could end up on the dark web and could never be deleted. Preventive habits, like using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, enabling dark web monitoring, and being cautious about sharing information, are far simpler and more effective in the long run.

Track, Monitor & Protect Your PII with PureVPN 

Your PII, including phone number, SSN, credit card details, and more, can be shared and sold on the dark web, leading to multiple exploitations.

You must protect your data and keep track of where it is shared. Here’s what to do:

1. Sign up for PureMax.
2. Download and install the PureVPN app.
3. Log in to your account and select Dark Web Monitoring.

4. Select Add Assets to Monitor and add your email address, SSN/NIN, credit card number, passport number, and phone number.
5. Enter the code sent to your registered number, and you’re done.

6. Follow the recommended measures if your data is part of a breach to prevent further misuse.

Wrap Up

Your PII is not safe. Once exposed, you could be at risk of identity theft, phishing attempts, and financial loss. Keeping your data safe has become most important. Track, monitor, and protect your data with PureVPN dark web monitoring to know where it is shared without your authority.