What’s the Deal With Data Breaches?

Data breaches are becoming more and more common these days. You hear about them in the news all the time. A data breach occurs when secure information is taken from a trusted environment without permission. Cybercriminals can use this information to steal your identity, hack into your online accounts, or use the information for targeted phishing attacks to gather even more information about you.

However, just because the data was exposed does not necessarily mean cybercriminals are already using it. The breach only means that cybercriminals can gain access to it more easily. There are steps you can take to protect your information, even if you were exposed in a data breach.

How Do I Protect My Information?

• Use different passwords for separate accounts. You can use a password manager to keep track of them.
• Set up multi-factor authentication, which requires you to provide two or more forms of verification to access your account, rather than relying solely on a password.
• Keep your personal information secure. Never share your passwords or personal information. Shred documents with your personal information before throwing them away.

What If My Information Was Exposed?

Don’t panic! Take a moment to assess the situation. Ask yourself: What sort of information was exposed? Do I need to notify my bank or other entities? What steps should I take to make my information more secure now?

• If your password was exposed, we recommend changing it for any of your online accounts that use it. Make sure the password is complex, or use a password generator to create one. For extra security, consider setting up multi-factor authentication.
• If your credit card number or bank account number was exposed , we recommend immediately calling your bank or cardholder and canceling your cards. Let them know that your information was exposed, so they can look out for fraudulent charges.
• If your social security number was exposed, immediately report that your Social Security number was stolen to the police, credit-reporting agencies, and the IRS. You may also want to sign up for a service that can monitor your identity or credit for added protection to help prevent credit fraud. You can also file an identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission.