A lot of people have online accounts that they’re really not using anymore. Those might be accounts they started years ago and eventually abandoned, or accounts that are much more recent but just don’t hold their interest. Either way, deleting those accounts is an important way to reduce the risk of data breaches. 

Anytime your personal information is provided online it creates another opportunity for hackers and identity thieves to get hold of and use it, so don’t leave abandoned accounts around. When you take the time to delete your accounts and data, you make it more difficult to have your personal information misused.

Particularly on older or outdated platforms, the security isn’t always as good as it should be. If the platform isn’t really in use much, the number of active users has dwindled, or the site is no longer maintained or monitored, security isn’t usually being updated, either. Those are accounts that you want to get rid of, in order to protect your personal data. Some companies retain certain pieces of information even after you’ve deleted your account, but that’s typically less data, overall.

Millions of people have been affected by data breaches over the last few years, and the more accounts you have the more risk you experience. To delete your accounts, you can usually access a delete button on the account’s profile or settings. If you find that there’s no easy way to do that, contacting support or customer service for the company can give you additional options for account deletion, too.

Before you delete your account, download your personal data from it if the site provides that option. Then you can see what data was part of your account, so you can have a better idea of the details that could be at risk. To locate and manage your accounts efficiently, so you can start deleting old ones, consider using the guide offered by Consumer Reports. You can also search for your name or username, or look for online information about how to delete an account at a specific site. Some sites make it easier than others, but if you’re not using the account it’s important to take the time to delete it, for your own peace of mind.

At The Estate Planning & Legacy Law Center, we are committed to helping people protect what matters most. Contact us today to learn more!