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The long answer: Whether you’re in the car, at work or in the comfort of home, you’re likely connected to technology that’s collecting data about you—or you’re using it to consciously share that data yourself.
“When you talk about what is your digital identity, it’s basically everything you share, the activities you do online and the information that belongs to you,” says Gopal Padinjaruveetil, chief information security officer for AAA. “It creates a picture of who you are.”
In addition to general information like your date of birth, email address and phone number, there are more sensitive parts of your digital identity: your credit card and bank account numbers, health information and much more—in simpler terms, it’s anything you don’t want others to know.
Here are some common examples of your digital identity—and tips to help keep each one safe:
Passwords are at the core of your digital identity. That’s because almost every site you regularly use on the internet requires you to create a password—resulting in more and more opportunities for your information to be compromised. So it’s important to ensure your passwords are protected and strong.
Don’t share your login credentials with others. Here’s another tip: If it’s a one-time-only share (such as loaning a friend your password to watch your new favorite movie), change the password immediately after.
Never check “remember my password.” This is especially true for devices you share with others, such as at the library or even at home. Padinjaruveetil recommends only saving passwords on strictly private devices, but it’s still best to weigh out what’s more important: convenience or security.
Use a passphrase over a password. Padinjaruveetil recommends passphrases because they’re typically longer than passwords and harder for a computer to guess, especially when the passphrase is comprised of random, yet meaningful, words.
Avoid keyboard patterns or personal information. “If I know your spouse or your dog’s name, I have a good chance of guessing your password,” says Padinjaruveetil. He also recommends staying away from patterns like QWERTY, and also “password” since it’s one of the most commonly used passwords.
In the age of online shopping and mobile banking, your bank account and credit card numbers are a vital part of your digital identity—because if that information is compromised, your financial life is put on hold to pick up the pieces.
Never use your social media passwords for your financial accounts. While it’s difficult to have unique passwords for every account, Padinjaruveetil says to at least make those passwords different from your financial accounts. That way, if your social media accounts’ passwords are compromised, your financial information won’t be.
Avoid making transactions over public Wi-Fi networks. If you’re sitting at a coffee shop while browsing your favorite clothing store’s app, wait to make your purchase until you get to a secure, protected network you trust.
Don’t save your card information on shopping websites. Of course, saving your card information makes online purchases so much more convenient. But if that account becomes compromised, your card information is vulnerable, too.
If you have a recent smartphone, chances are you unlock it using facial recognition or your fingerprint—in other words, biometrics. They are great for convenience and, for the most part, safety—but this doesn’t mean your biometric data is totally untouched by identity theft.
Since biometric data has a high level of sensitivity, it tends to be more secure. But if it is compromised, that’s when identity theft could elevate to a level beyond your control.
“If your password or credit card gets stolen, typically you can replace it,” says Padinjaruveetil. “But if your fingerprint gets stolen, you can’t get a new finger. There’s a lot of real concerns around using biometrics.”
Only use biometrics in a few places. Limit using your fingerprint or face ID to just unlocking your devices and other places where your biometrics will only be stored on your device (versus on a server that could be accessed by thieves).
Keep your devices updated. When you get a notification to update your device, do it sooner rather than later. The updated software can employ new technology that continues to keep your biometric data safe and secure.
You’re scrolling through your social media feed when you see an advertisement for something you searched for recently. While you might think that’s a bit odd, it’s quite the opposite—because any activity you do online is being captured and used to provide better services to you, making it a part of your digital identity.
It ultimately boils down to making money. If you like going to the beach, you may get targeted with advertisements for beach houses, activities and supplies. “That’s the whole definition of a digital identity,” Padinjaruveetil says. “Everything that is personal to you, everything you share with others and every activity you do.”
Has your information been compromised in a data breach? Take these seven steps.
Read moreUse a virtual private network when traveling. VPNs help create a safe and secure connection over a public network—one of the main reasons it’s strongly recommended when traveling internationally. “If you’re on a VPN, it’s very difficult for somebody to snoop in and listen to what you’re typing,” Padinjaruveetil says.
Shop at trusted websites only. When you find something you love for cheap, it’s easy to want to buy it right away—even if the website seems a little suspicious. Padinjaruveetil’s rule of thumb? Only shop at websites that have a physical presence. That way, if something goes wrong, you can talk to someone face to face.
Make sure the website is secure. Look for a lock symbol or “https” in the URL bar of your browser—especially if you’re giving out personal information. If you see either, you’ll know your connection is secure.
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of your identity? We have a guess: your Social Security number. So it should come as no surprise that it’s a part of your digital identity, too—especially if you’ve ever created an online account with your employer, health care provider, bank, student loan company or other government agency.
Only provide it when there’s a valid reason. Whether it’s in a doctor’s office, school or online, limit how often you share your Social Security number. Always ask why before giving it out—and make sure you get a sufficient reason before handing it over.
You probably can’t count all of the online accounts you have on your fingers and toes. And for each, you probably have answered a series of security questions to add another level of protection. Like those accounts, the security questions are also a part of your digital identity as they answer questions about who you are, from your mother’s maiden name to your childhood best friend.
Understand your login options. Many websites allow you to log in using your Google or Facebook account. Padinjaruveetil’s advice: Know what your options really mean. For example, if you use your existing logins to sign into a website, understand that Facebook or Google can collect the data you’re giving away on that particular site.
Think twice before posting personal information. Have you ever seen the long 20-question social posts where you answer fun, basic questions about yourself? Avoid taking those—many of the questions can also be common security questions.
Read the terms and conditions. In most cases, you have to accept the terms and conditions. But that doesn’t mean you should immediately hit “I agree.” By agreeing to a website’s conditions, you’re more than likely giving permission for them to collect behind-the-scenes data on you—and you should always be familiar and comfortable with the terms.
Likes, posts, reposts, shares, tweets, reacts, comments … all of the above become a part of your digital identity when you’re active on social media. And to go further, the info you give out in comments and posts becomes a part of your identity as well—whether it’s about what you’re doing or things you like.
Don’t accept every friend request or connection. Always err on the side of caution, even on LinkedIn. Because while it seems safe to connect with those who have similar backgrounds and interests, it’s not always going to lead to new opportunities.
Avoid geotagging your posts. While you may want to tout your vacation spots, Padinjaruveetil says it’s best to avoid giving out your location on your photos or videos, especially on Facebook and Instagram.
Get peace of mind with ProtectMyID, an increasingly valuable benefit of your AAA membership.
This information is being provided for general informational purposes only. The Auto Club Group does not assume any liability in connection with providing this information.
Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
We may change APRs, fees, and other Account terms in the future based on your experience with ACG Card Services and its affiliates as provided under the Cardmember Agreement and applicable law.
1Cash back can be redeemed in the form of a statement credit or ACH deposit ($25 cash back minimum redemption). Cash back is not earned on business related transactions or activities. You may not redeem cash back, and you will immediately lose all of your cash back, if your account is closed to future transactions (including, but not limited to, due to Program misuse, failure to pay, bankruptcy, or death). Cash back will expire at 11:00 p.m. Central Time on the last day of the calendar quarter that is five (5) years from the date on which they are earned. Account must be open and in good standing to earn and redeem rewards and benefits. Upon approval, please refer to your Cardmember Agreement for additional information. Cash back is earned on eligible net purchases. Net purchases are purchases minus credits and returns. Not all transactions are eligible to earn cash back, such as Advances, Balance Transfers, and Convenience Checks and other advance transactions as defined in the Cardmember Agreement, as well as interest charges and fees do not qualify. U.S. Bank cannot control how merchants classify their business or transactions and reserves the right to determine which Purchases will qualify in which category. Earn 2% per dollar for qualifying net purchases made with the card through any participating AAA Club when AAA is the merchant of record, on qualifying net insurance purchases (MCC = 6300) and at eligible retail travel merchants. AAA Clubs located in Northern California, Nevada and Utah are not participating AAA Clubs and purchases made at those clubs will not qualify for 2%. Earn 4% per dollar for qualifying net purchases on AAA purchases, travel and insurance for your first 6 months up to $6,000. After that, earn cash back in the standard 2% category. Foreign Transaction Fee: None.
2 Benefits are subject to terms, conditions, and limitations on the amount of coverage. Travel and Emergency Assistance Services help in coordinating medical, legal and travel services while away from home. Rental Collision Damage Waiver coverage and peace of mind for damage due to collision or theft of most rental cars. Certain terms and conditions apply. Please refer to your Visa Guide to Benefits for details
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This card is issued by U.S. Bank NA dba ACG Card Services, pursuant to a license from Visa USA Inc. Equal Credit Opportunity Lender
†Annual Percentage Rate (APR). Auto Loans. Rates and terms effective as of 3/7/2025. APR is accurate as of 3/7/2025. Advertised rates and terms are subject to change without prior notice. Additional terms and restrictions may apply. Other loan rates available. Subject to borrower qualification. Advertised rate includes a 0.25% discount when you set up automatic payments from any checking or savings account. Rate is variable. Offer valid on personal vehicle loans only. Criteria to receive the stated APR: Loan term 48 months or less new or used, model years 2019 – 2025 with a credit score of 740 or higher based on the Vantage scoring model. Buyer is responsible for all state or local fees. AAA Banking uses a managed credit program, and final APR is dependent on your credit score. An auto loan with an APR of 5.24% for a $20,000 loan at a term of 48 months, your estimated monthly payment would be $463. An auto loan with an APR of 5.49% for a $20,000 loan at a term of 48 months, your estimated payment would be $465. Private party sales will not be financed. Auto loans are offered by Grasshopper Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
§ Auto Loan Calculator
The figures entered on the input page of this calculator are for hypothetical purposes only. You should enter figures that are appropriate to your individual situation. The results provided by this calculator are also intended for illustrative purposes only and accuracy is not guaranteed. This calculator is not intended to offer any tax, legal, financial or investment advice and does not assure the availability of or your eligibility for any specific product offered, nor does this calculator predict or guarantee the actual results of any product. The terms and conditions of products offered will differ and may affect the results of the calculator. Please consult with qualified professionals to discuss your situation. The final APR may differ from the APR in the above results due to additional fees that may be applicable.
3Triple Advantage Savings Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of 4/1/2025. The minimum amount to open an account is $100.00. Triple Advantage Savings Account Holders can earn the following Annual Percentage Yield (APY): 3.50% APY with Eligible AAA Membership and 3.15% APY without eligible AAA membership.* Deposit products are offered by Grasshopper Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
4Triple Advantage Savings account holders with a monthly average balance of $25,000.00 or greater receive free outgoing domestic wire transfers. Triple Advantage Savings account holders with a monthly average balance of $24,999.99 or less will be charged a $10 fee for each domestic outgoing wire transfer.
5Triple Advantage Certificate of Deposit (CD) Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of 4/14/2025. The minimum deposit to open an account is $500. 4.25% APY applies to a 6-month CD with balances of $500.00 and up. 4.20% APY applies to a 9-month CD with balances of $500.00 and up. 4.10% APY applies to a 12-month CD with balances of $500.00 and up. 3.95% APY applies to an 18-month CD with balances of $500.00 and up. 3.75% APY applies to a 24-month CD with balances of $500.00 and up. 3.50% APY applies to a 36, 48, and 60-month CD with balances of $500.00 and up. CDs are opened and interest begins on the day the funding deposit is received. The interest rate and APY are fixed for the term of the CD. The APY assumes interest remains on deposit until maturity. Withdrawal of interest before maturity will reduce earnings. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Fees may reduce earnings on the account. Deposit products are offered by Grasshopper Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
Early Withdrawal Penalties
An early withdrawal penalty will apply if you withdraw funds before the maturity date. For terms of 6 to 12 months, the penalty is 90 days of interest. For terms of 13 to 60 months, the penalty is 180 days of interest. In accordance with Regulation D, a minimum penalty of 7 days’ simple interest will apply to withdrawals made within 6 days of deposit or within 6 days of a previous withdrawal.
6Triple Advantage Checking Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of 4/1/2025. The minimum amount to open an account is $100.00. Triple Advantage Checking Account Holders can earn the following Annual Percentage Yield (APY): 1.00% APY with eligible AAA membership and 0.75% APY without eligible AAA membership.* Deposit products are offered by Grasshopper Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
7Cash Back rewards offer 1.00% cash back on all qualified purchases made by eligible Triple Advantage Checking account holders with an eligible AAA membership.* To qualify for cash back, Triple Advantage Checking account holders must meet all requirements and a transaction must be deemed as a qualified purchase.
Qualified purchases are signature-based purchases made with a AAA Banking debit card from a Triple Advantage Checking Account. To make a signature-based purchase, select “credit” rather than debit at point-of-sale kiosks. The “credit” option is most often pre-selected when making purchases online using a debit card. Online subscription payments may not be considered signature-based purchases. The payment transaction type (signature-based or other) is ultimately decided by the merchant and how the transaction is transmitted to AAA Banking at the time of processing. AAA Banking reserves the right to determine if a transaction was a qualified purchase, and to establish additional types of qualified purchases that could be made available in a variety of ways. Any goods or services purchased with the debit card that are returned or otherwise credited to the account are not qualified purchases. Unlawful purchases and purchases of currency, cash or cash equivalents (including, without limitation, currency from the U.S. Mint, travelers cheques, gift cards, cryptocurrency, casino chips, peer-to-peer payments, prepaid debit cards, account openings, loan payments, or other cash equivalents) made with a debit card are not qualified purchases. Documentation may be required to validate that certain purchases are qualified purchases. If you or AAA Banking closes the account for any reason before the end of the statement cycle, you will forfeit all rewards accrued through your linked debit card during that statement cycle. The AAA Banking Visa® debit card is issued by Grasshopper Bank, N.A. pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa is accepted.
Important Tax Information
The value of this reward may constitute taxable income and may be reported to the Internal Revenue Service as miscellaneous income to the first signer on the account, in the year received, as required by applicable law. Offer is limited to clients who are citizens of the United States that furnish or have a valid Form W-9 on file and the account must not be subject to backup withholding.You may be issued an Internal Revenue Service Form 1099 (or other appropriate form) to you that reflects the value of such reward. Please consult your tax adviser, as AAA Banking does not provide tax advice.
*Eligible AAA Membership Definition: you must be a "Basic," "Plus," or "Premier" member of AAA - The Auto Club Group (ACG). ACG serves households in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin. Applicants must be 18+ and a U.S. resident. Other AAA memberships are not eligible.
AAA-Member Verification & Product Eligibility
By applying for a AAA Banking deposit account, you acknowledge and agree that if you select a AAA-member product, your AAA membership status with Auto Club Group (ACG) will be validated at the time of account opening and periodically thereafter. If your AAA membership cannot be validated or your membership status changes, your account may be moved to a non-member product with different terms, including but not limited to a lower Annual Percentage Yield (APY) and the removal of other AAA member-only benefits. If this occurs, you will receive a notification regarding the change in the product and applicable terms. If you believe your AAA Membership status was incorrectly validated or that you have been placed in the incorrect product, please contact us to review and correct your status.
Products are offered by Grasshopper Bank, N.A.. Equal Credit Opportunity Lender.
Member FDIC
