You don’t need to be paranoid to be careful – but right now, when dating apps, shared apartments, and remote work blur private and public life, knowing which details to never share matters. In this Additional Practical Topics piece I’ll walk you through Personal Information You Should Never Share, including common risky items like your social security number, mother’s maiden name, account numbers, passport and driver’s license numbers, one-time codes, biometric data, location metadata, and health records. I’ll also give real-life tips, checklists, and mistakes I’ve seen other single guys make so you can lock down your identity without living in a bunker.
Critical IDs and Financial Data to Guard
Don’t give these out casually. Scammers, identity thieves, and even well-meaning people can turn this into a problem.
What not to share
- Social Security number (SSN) – only give for verified tax, employment, or government reasons.
- Bank account and routing numbers – avoid unless you initiated a direct deposit or bill pay with a trusted institution.
- Credit card numbers and PINs – never share via text, DM, or voice call unless you initiated a secure payment.
- Tax ID and payroll details – only with HR systems or verified payroll providers.
Practical checks before you share
- Ask why they need it, exactly how it will be stored, and for how long.
- Verify identity: call a published number for the company, not the one they send you.
- Prefer secure forms – company portals with HTTPS, not email or messaging.
Online Accounts, Passwords, and Authentication Secrets
Your accounts are the keys to everything. Treat authentication details like cash.
Secrets to keep private
- Login credentials – usernames and passwords for email, banking, crypto, and social media.
- Recovery questions – mother’s maiden name, first pet, or childhood street are often public or guessable.
- One-time codes and 2FA tokens – don’t forward them to anyone, even if they claim to be support.
Actionable habits
- Use a password manager to generate and store strong, unique passwords.
- Enable app-based 2FA (Authenticator or hardware key) – SMS is better than nothing, but less secure.
- Rotate passwords after breaches – check for breaches with reputable tools and change immediately.
Personal Identifiers and Location Data
Some things feel boring to protect, like your birthdate, but attackers use them for social engineering.
High-risk identifiers
- Date of birth and place of birth – combined with a name, they unlock accounts and records.
- Driver’s license and passport numbers – used to fabricate IDs and open accounts.
- Biometric data – fingerprints and face scans should only be stored by trusted manufacturers and services.
- Real-time location and geotags – don’t share live locations or photos with embedded GPS unless necessary.
Smart limits
- On social media, remove birth year or make the field private.
- Turn off location services for apps that don’t need them; strip metadata from photos before posting.
- Only hand over a copy of your ID in person when required; ask how the organization secures physical and digital copies.
Health, Legal, and Sensitive Records
Medical history and legal documents carry stigma and risk if exposed.
What to avoid sharing
- Medical records, mental health notes, and prescriptions – share only with healthcare providers or insurers via secure portals.
- Legal documents like affidavits, custody info, or sealed records – disclose only to lawyers and courts as required.
- Sexual health and intimate medical details – keep these private unless directly relevant to care.
Practical steps
- Use patient portals with two-step verification for health info.
- If you must share records, redact unrelated sensitive details and keep a copy in encrypted storage.
- When using telehealth, verify the platform’s privacy policy and whether sessions are recorded.
Social and Dating Situations: What to Watch For
As a single man, you’ll meet new people often. Being open is fine – oversharing is not.
Red flags to spot
- Requests for financial help early in conversations (monetary asks within days).
- Asking for detailed personal history right away – childhood trauma, family SSNs, exact work schedule.
- Pressure to move conversations off-platform to unmoderated apps or email.
Dating safety checklist
- Keep initial conversations on the dating app until trust is built.
- Don’t share your home address, workplace address, or travel plans until you know someone well.
- For first dates, meet in public, tell a friend where you’ll be, and share an estimated end time.
Mistakes I’ve Seen Guys Make – and How to Avoid Them
I’ve helped friends clean up identity problems after one careless text or a scanned ID sent by email.
Common errors
- Texting photos of IDs or credit cards – screens get screenshots and forwarded.
- Using the same security answers across sites – attackers guess one, they get many.
- Connecting to public Wi-Fi to do banking – easy interception point for attackers.
How I handle it – simple rules
- If you wouldn’t hand it to a stranger in a bar, don’t text it to someone you just met.
- Use encrypted storage and a reliable password manager for scanned documents.
- Use your phone plan or a VPN for sensitive transactions – avoid public networks.
Quick Security Audit: A Step-by-Step Checklist
Run this in one afternoon to reduce big risks.
30-minute audit
- Change passwords for email and financial accounts; enable app-based 2FA.
- Freeze your credit with major bureaus if you suspect exposure or before sending ID copies.
- Review privacy settings on social apps; hide birth year and location history.
- Delete or archive old accounts you no longer use; old logins are attack vectors.
- Shred physical documents with account numbers or SSNs you don’t need.
Tools and Habits That Actually Help
You don’t need extreme tech – consistent habits and a few tools go a long way.
Recommended essentials
- Password manager (generates unique passphrases).
- Hardware 2FA key for critical accounts (banks, email).
- VPN for public Wi-Fi and privacy-conscious browsing.
- Credit freeze and identity monitoring if you suspect any leak.
- Physical shredder for sensitive mail and documents.
Daily routines
- Pause before you share: ask “why, how, and who” every time your info is requested.
- Limit what you carry: leave unnecessary documents and extra cards at home.
- Set up a recovery plan: designate trusted contacts for emergencies and document where encrypted backups live.
Protecting your personal information isn’t about fear; it’s about control. Start with small, consistent changes – a password manager, stripping photo metadata, pausing before you send an ID – and you’ll cut your risk massively. Keep this guide as a checklist: run the audit, lock down accounts, and treat sensitive details as you would cash. Take one practical step today and you’ll thank yourself later.
Leave a Reply