Protecting Your Family Tree: How to Keep Your Genealogy Data Safe

Protecting Your Family Tree: How to Keep Your Genealogy Data Safe

In the digital age, our family history is more accessible than ever before. Online genealogy platforms like Ancestry and FamilySearch have made it easier than ever to connect with our ancestors and build detailed family trees. However, with this increased accessibility comes a greater risk of data breaches and security vulnerabilities. It's crucial to be proactive in protecting your genealogy data and ensuring the privacy of your family's history.

Recently, Ancestry announced the discontinuation of its RootsWeb mailing lists, a move that has sparked concerns about data security among genealogists. While Ancestry claims this change is part of a broader platform modernization effort, it highlights the importance of understanding how our data is handled and taking steps to safeguard it.

Why is Genealogy Data Vulnerable?

Genealogy data can be particularly vulnerable for a few reasons:

• Personal Information: Genealogy records often contain sensitive personal information, such as birth dates, death dates, addresses, and even medical records. This information can be misused for identity theft or other malicious purposes.
• Family Connections: Genealogy data reveals family relationships, which can be used to target individuals or families for scams or harassment.
• Publicly Available: Much genealogy data is shared online, making it easily accessible to anyone with an internet connection.

Steps to Protect Your Genealogy Data

Here are some practical steps you can take to protect your genealogy data:

1. Secure Your Accounts

• Use Strong Passwords: Create unique, strong passwords for all your genealogy accounts and avoid using the same password for multiple sites.
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication: This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a code from your phone or email in addition to your password.
• Be Wary of Phishing Attempts: Never click on suspicious links or open attachments from unknown senders. These could be attempts to steal your login credentials.

2. Control Your Data Sharing

• Review Privacy Settings: Understand the privacy settings on your genealogy platforms and adjust them to limit the amount of information shared publicly.
• Limit Public Tree Access: Consider making your family tree private or only sharing it with trusted individuals.
• Be Mindful of Data Sharing: Think carefully before uploading sensitive documents or information to online platforms.

3. Backup Your Data

• Regular Backups: Regularly back up your genealogy data to a secure external hard drive or cloud storage service.
• Offline Copies: Keep physical copies of important documents, such as birth certificates and marriage licenses, in a safe place.

4. Stay Informed

• Follow Industry News: Stay updated on data security news and best practices in the genealogy community.
• Contact Support: If you have concerns about your data security, contact the support team of your genealogy platform.

Conclusion

Protecting your genealogy data is an ongoing process. By taking proactive steps to secure your accounts, control your data sharing, and stay informed about security threats, you can help ensure that your family's history is safe for generations to come.

Remember, your genealogy data is valuable. Treat it with the same care and attention you would give to any other important asset.