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Are Privacy Cards Safe?

Are Privacy Cards Safe?

Laura Martisiute

January 17, 2025

Reading time: 5 minutes

If you use or plan to use privacy cards from Privacy.com, you need to know: Are privacy cards safe? 

Below, we explain whether privacy cards are: 

  • Safe to use. 
  • Good for privacy. 

We also look at some steps you can take to improve both your safety and privacy when using this online service. 

What Is a Privacy Card?

A privacy card from Privacy.com is a virtual card that allows you to protect your financial information while shopping online. 

Virtual cards

Instead of using your debit or credit card, Privacy.com generates a unique virtual card number for each purchase. 

Privacy cards connect to your bank account, but merchants do not see your real account details. So even if a merchant is a scammer or its system gets hacked, your account details stay safe.

A key feature of privacy cards is that they allow users to set spending limits. You can control the money charged to the card per transaction or on a monthly basis. Privacy.com also allows you to create single-use cards that deactivate after one transaction and merchant-locked cards that only work with a specific vendor, giving you even more control.

Are Privacy Cards Safe?

Yes, privacy cards from Privacy.com are generally considered safe. 

In fact, they may be safer to use than normal credit or debit cards. This is because they protect your real debit or credit card information (privacy cards are unique 16-digit payment card numbers). 

Users can also limit how the virtual cards are used. You can create single-use cards that deactivate after one transaction or set up merchant-locked cards that only work with a specific retailer. 

If a privacy card falls into someone else’s hands, it can’t be easily reused. Also, you can set spending limits on privacy cards as a further protection.

Privacy.com uses strong encryption protocols to secure your data during transactions and while it’s stored, minimizing the risk of data breaches. It partners with financial institutions that are FDIC-insured, meaning your linked bank account is protected. 

There are no major data breaches associated with Privacy.com at the time of writing.

Are Privacy Cards Private?

Depends on your definition of “private.” While privacy cards, in general, are good for privacy, there are some things to keep in mind about Privacy.com. 

The Privacy.com platform allows customers to purchase goods and services without disclosing their actual name, address, or credit card details to the seller. Vendors remain unaware of the user’s personal information, but Privacy.com retains access to this data.

According to its privacy policy, Privacy.com collects government identification information, name, email address, phone number, birth date, payment data, transaction data, device data, and data from third parties related to your government identification number over the past 12 months. 

Privacy.com does not sell your data to third parties.

Privacy.com’s privacy policy gets a “Grade E” from Terms of Service; Didn’t Read (ToS;DR), a project that rates internet services’ privacy policies. The grade means, “The terms of service raise very serious concerns.” 

Terms of Service; Didn't Read page for Privacy.com

ToS;DR notes that the service can delete specific content without notice or reason; logs are kept for an undefined period of time; users must provide identifiable information; the service may collect location data; and some personal data may be kept for business interests or legal obligations.

How to Improve Your Safety and Privacy While Using Privacy Cards

Follow the below steps for a safer and more private experience while using privacy cards. 

  • Use single-use cards. Single-use cards automatically deactivate after one transaction. This ensures that even if the card information is stolen, it cannot be used again. It minimizes the risk of exposure in case of a breach.
  • Lock cards to specific merchants. Merchant-locked cards can only be used with the retailer you designate. If a criminal tries to use the card elsewhere, it will be declined, keeping your data secure and limited to just one business.
  • Set lower spending limits. You can set per-transaction or monthly limits on each virtual card. This reduces the potential damage in case of unauthorized charges and prevents overspending even if your card is compromised.
  • Use different cards for different services. If one card is compromised, it only affects that specific service, and you can easily deactivate it without impacting your other accounts.
  • Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). 2FA adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification. 
  • Regularly monitor and rotate cards. Periodically updating or canceling cards reduces the risk of long-term exposure. This practice makes it harder for anyone to track or misuse your information over time, and you can cancel old cards that are no longer needed.
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Laura Martisiute is DeleteMe’s content marketing specialist. Her job is to help DeleteMe communicate vital privacy information to the people that need it. Since joining DeleteMe in 2020, Laura h…
Laura Martisiute is DeleteMe’s content marketing specialist. Her job is to help DeleteMe communicate vital privacy information to the people that need it. Since joining DeleteMe in 2020, Laura h…
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