Any personal information you throw on the internet gets stored somewhere, and there will always be people who will try to access that information illegally, and do shady things with it later on, which may cause serious problems for you.
For this reason, privacy and digital security is taken very seriously in every digital sector, and e-commerce is no different. With more and more people making purchases online, it is crucial to ensure that your data is secure.
Having your home address tied to your online shopping history on sites like Amazon is a major privacy concern. While it’s true that shopping online can save you a lot of time, it’s important to keep in mind the risks involved with giving out your home address.
Let us run you through the whole process of changing residential address on Amazon, and also the reasons why you should take the security of your personal information seriously.
Why Remove Your Residential Address on Amazon?
Using a home address to make purchases on Amazon exposes you to some very significant privacy concerns. The removal of your home address is highly recommended for the following reasons:
a. Privacy Risks
Your home address is very private and personal information, and if wrong people gain access to it, they can put you in a world of hurt.
Don’t believe it? Hackers and conmen can use your ID to commit a crime, such as taking a loan from a bank, defraud someone, or have something illegal (such as drugs or contraband) to your residential address. Good luck telling the authorities that it wasn’t you when they’ll be putting you in jail.
Convinced? Good. Guard your personal information and privacy like your life depends on it. Because in more ways than one, it actually does.
b. Data Breaches
Big corporations like Amazon have very good countermeasures in place to protect their data. Unfortunately, the hackers are also very good at countering those countermeasures, and gain access to that data anyway.
If your home address is associated with your Amazon account, it could be made public in the event of a security breach, as online platforms are not immune to data theft. If your address is no longer visible, it is less likely to fall into the wrong hands.
c. Unwanted Marketing
There is a higher chance of receiving targeted advertisements or unsolicited marketing materials when your home address is linked to your Amazon account. There is a very good reason for that too: people who are just scrolling casually through a product listing won’t bother to enter their personal information in the account settings. When you enter something like a residential address or credit card info, it marks you out as a serious buyer, and marketing algorithms will assault you mercilessly for that.
The solution is simple: if you don’t want to receive these messages, removing your address is a good first step.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Remove Your Residential Address on Amazon
Follow these steps to sign into your Amazon account and start the removal of your home address:
- Go to amazon’s website.
- Sign in with your credentials (email or phone number).
- Hover mouse over the ‘Accounts & Lists’ option at the top-right corner, and select ‘Account’ from the dropdown menu that appears.
- On the Account Settings page, click on the ‘Your addresses’ option. This will take you to the page where you can manage your address information.
- If you already have a saved address, it will be displayed as ‘Default’ address, which is the address that automatically become your shipping address on the checkout screen. If you have more than one addresses, one of them will be the default address. If you want to add a new address, click on the ‘Add Address’ option to the left.
- Fill in the address information, and hit the yellow ‘Add address’ button.
- If you want to make this the default address, select the ‘Set as default’ option.
- If you want to remove any address, click the ‘Remove’ option. You can also change the details of an existing address with the ‘Edit’ option.
And this is it, this is how you can add a new residential address, remove or edit an existing one, and set a default address on Amazon.
Whenever you enter the checkout window off of a product listing, Amazon will consider your default address as your shipping address of choice.
Possible Alternatives to Your Residential Address
Sometimes, not giving your home address in not an option, especially if you are shopping online. If you must provide an address for shipping, consider using an alternative address, such as your work address or a P.O Box address.
Another option is to use virtual address services that offer a discrete mailing address for online purchases.
Following these instructions will allow you to remove your home address from your Amazon account, giving you more control over your personal information and security when shopping online, and will also ensure that you do not get into any undue trouble because your residential address has fallen into wrong hands.
Benefits of Protecting Personal Information
Protecting your personal information online offers several benefits, such as:
Identity theft prevention: In today’s interconnected society, identity theft is a major problem. By omitting your home address, you lessen the likelihood that your personal information will be stolen and used fraudulently.
Enhanced security: Taking down your home address from your online profiles is a good security measure. This reduces the potential for hackers to gain access to your private information and accounts.
Control over information sharing: You can exercise greater discretion over the personal data you make available to websites if you don’t provide an address. This allows you to carefully choose the information you share and reduce the data trails you leave behind online.
Additional Tips for Protecting Your Privacy on Amazon
Taking the time to delete your home address is a big step in protecting your privacy on Amazon, but there are other things you can do as well. Think about these suggestions:
a. Exploring Amazon’s Privacy Settings and Features:
Amazon provides various privacy settings and features that allow you to have more control over your personal information. Take the time to explore and utilize these options. Some key features to consider include:
Personalized Advertising Preferences: Access the “Advertising Preferences” section in your Amazon account settings to manage the types of ads you see on the platform. You can customize your ad preferences or choose to opt-out of personalized advertising altogether.
Order History and Browsing Data: Amazon allows you to review and manage your order history and browsing data. Regularly review and delete any unnecessary data to minimize your digital footprint.
b. Managing Account Information Securely
This is how you can enhance the security of your personal information on your Amazon account:
Use Strong and Unique Passwords: Create a secure password by mixing capital and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Never reuse passwords or use the same password for different accounts.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): With two-factor authentication, you’ll need both your password and a verification code to gain access. For extra security, turn on two-factor authentication in your Amazon account settings.
Be Cautious with Account Sharing: Don’t let anyone else have access to your Amazon account by not keeping your credentials private. Consider using Amazon Household or making a sub-account with restricted access if you need to share your account with another person.
Regularly Monitor Your Account Activity: Be on the lookout for any unusual or unauthorized activity associated with your Amazon account. Immediately contact Amazon’s customer service if you find any inconsistencies.
Conclusion
Personal information shared on the internet is stored and can be accessed illegally by individuals who may use it for malicious purposes. Privacy and digital security are essential in all digital sectors, including e-commerce like Amazon. While online shopping offers convenience, it is crucial to be aware of the risks associated with sharing your home address. There are several reasons why removing your residential address on Amazon is recommended:
It’s important to note that if you still require an address for shipping purposes, you can consider using an alternative address, such as a work address or a P.O. Box. Virtual address services are also available to maintain privacy while providing a unique address for online purchases.
Taking precautions like removing your Amazon account and changing your password can help you avoid identity theft, increase your online security, and give you more say in what information about you is shared with third parties.
It goes without saying that understanding the potential privacy and security risks of online sharing of personal information is necessary to ensure your own well-being, and it is strongly advised that you take appropriate measures to protect your data.
Hope you’ve learned how to remove residential address for digital purchases on amazon in details. Let Bizistech know about your feedback and suggestions in the below comment section. Contact us for any personal query.
