We’ve all received notices about data breaches. Take these steps before and after to protect your information.
BEFORE:
* Freeze your credit to stop the opening of new accounts.
* Use strong, unique passwords with mixed characters.
* Monitor your bank and credit card statements regularly.
AFTER:
* Verify the notice is legitimate; don’t click on email links.
* Change your password on that account immediately.
* Contact your bank, credit card company, credit bureaus, and Social Security depending on what was breached.
*Sign up for any free monitoring that the notice gives.
Find out how to recover from a data breach at identitytheft.gov/databreach. Also Identity Theft Resource Center advisors offer free help by phone or text at 888-400-5530. You can find out more about other data breaches at idtheftcenter.org.
