Students warned to protect personal information

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The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is urging new and returning university students to protect their personal information as the new academic year approaches.

It said students are more likely to be invited to sign up for new services and societies within the first few days and weeks of the academic year.

The warning comes as a recent survey conducted by the ICO revealed that young people appear to protect their personal information less well than any other age group.

The survey of 1,223 UK adults aged over 16 and conducted by market research firm Tickbox found that more than half (56 per cent) use the same passwords for more than one account. And one in five failed to properly destroy bank statements or receipts before throwing them in the bin.

David Smith, ICO deputy commissioner said: "Protecting your personal information has never been so important. Students can be particularly vulnerable around this time of year.

"It can also be very irritating being pestered by unwanted marketing calls, text messages and junk mail, particularly if it involves unwittingly signing up for a service you are then charged for."

The ICO is directing concerned students to a free online guide designed to help them protect and manage their personal information.

The ICO Personal Information Toolkit includes advice and tips on how to access the personal information organisations hold, how to correct inaccurate information and how to reduce unwanted marketing calls and texts.

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