Security of Your Information

You control your password. We will never ask you to disclose your full password when we communicate with you, and you should not share it with anyone. We recommend that you change your password from time to time—and remember, given the nature of our site, using your relatives’ names or dates of birth is not a good idea. Access Account Settings to change your password.

Many governments provide useful guidance on how to prevent online fraud and identity theft. We have provided a few useful links in the Additional Resources section.

We have many safeguards in place to prevent your research from being lost and to prevent cyber-attacks, phishing, or other malicious activity.

Secure account sign-in
We require a unique user name and password to sign in to your Ancestry account. In addition only you, or those you have authorized, can edit your online tree. Learn more about tree editing roles.

System backups
We use the latest technology to provide reliable access to your tree and have processes to back up all user trees on a regular basis.

Accidental deletions
When you delete a tree, we require you to re-enter your password to prevent the possibility of deleting a tree accidently. 

Ancestry.com has several security methods in place to prevent fraud and protect the use of your personal information, and we use secure server software to encrypt your financial information.

Credit Card Security
We use Card Verification Value Codes (CVV2) for “card not present” purchases.

Fraud Prevention Team
We have a team of experienced analysts who are dedicated to preventing fraud on our website and assisting members with any problems or concerns they may have. You can learn more by contacting our Fraud Prevention Team.

Data Encryption
We use 128-bit SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption when purchasing subscriptions, placing orders, and updating credit card details in order to protect your private information. Our Security Certificate was issued by Equifax Secure, Inc. For more information about data encryption on our site, click here.