The aftermath of the Equifax data breach has left us with more questions than answers. How could something like this happen to a major company? How could they be so careless with our private information? Who did this and what is being done about it? As this gets sorted out, there are already facts we know and actions we need to take.
According to Equifax, over 140 million American consumers’ sensitive personal information was exposed in the data breach. The thought that around 45% of the nation was affected by this should be reason enough to make sure your vital info is secure from here on out. The idea that someone might have your most private data has to feel like a chill down the spine.
This cyber-security breach included personal data such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth and home addresses. To make matters worse, this hack took place two months ago and it was only a week ago that we learned about it. This is the second largest company data breach in history. Top honors belongs to Yahoo from last year’s cyber attack. Just a reminder that no matter how big the organization is, they can be vulnerable to cyber-criminals.
Whether or not your information was exposed, you always want to make sure you are on a secure computer and an encrypted network connection. As more info is released about the hack, it would be wise to freeze your credit reports. By placing a temporary freeze on your credit reports, you’ll prevent hackers from opening fraudulent accounts in your name. Signing up for identity protection is another smart way to protect yourself. Companies like LifeLock and PrivacyGuard can monitor your identity by notifying you on any data breaches, while also providing activity alerts on your credit cards and bank accounts.
The bottom line is Equifax has some serious explaining to do with their customers. While this process plays out, you must stay vigilant and guard your online information more than ever. Choosing an automatic online backup provider, with a state-of-the-art data center and unbreakable end-to-end encryption, can go a long way towards calming your fears about future data breaches.
