![]() It will not prevent hackers from stealing that info, but it will make it very difficult for them – or for those who buy that data from them – to use this data to open credit accounts in your name and steal your identity. Put a “security freeze” on each of the three major credit bureausĪ security freeze (aka “credit freeze”) will prevent the credit bureaus from selling your data to anyone. But here is the most effective way to prevent identity theft: It also offers consumers its own 3-bureau credit monitoring service (Equifax, Experian and Trans Union) and identity theft protection. It also got its PR and damage control campaign underway, put its legal team to work to defend against class-action lawsuits, and initiated other moves to stem the bloodletting of its shares. Equifax also reported the criminal access to law enforcement and continues to work with authorities. The company promptly engaged a leading, independent cybersecurity firm that has been conducting a comprehensive forensic review to determine the scope of the intrusion, including the specific data impacted. Here’s what Equifax did to deal with this, according to the statement: But given the data Equifax collects on consumers, it’s in an entirely different category. When EBay reported its mega-breach in May 2014, it refused to disclose how many accounts were compromised but asked 145 million users to change passwords. There have been hacks involving more accounts, including Yahoo’s breach that compromised 1 billion accounts, but many of them were inactive, used aliases, and weren’t associated with social security numbers, credit card numbers, and driver’s license numbers. “Found no evidence” doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. If you ever looked at your full multi-page credit report from Equifax or the other consumer credit bureaus: that pile of details is just a brief summary of the massive amounts of data credit bureaus collect on consumers.Įquifax said that it “has found no evidence of unauthorized activity” on its “core consumer or commercial credit reporting databases.” That’s where the other consumer data – what you bought, how you paid for it, where you went to buy it, etc. Those data points are the crown jewels for hackers. This is the kind of information with which identities can be stolen and money can be borrowed in your name.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |