Equifax Data Breach: How To Protect Yourself

Hurricanes aren't the only storms brewing at the moment. Equifax's recent data breach is ruffling feathers as well, and we're getting lots of calls about it.

For anyone wondering how to check whether their name is on the list of folks impacted by the Equifax data breach, here is a link to their site.

One caveat: apparently their website is not functioning at 100%, so sometimes a name will appear on the list, and later it will not. It would be best to take this course of action:

1) Check the site more than once at different times of the day to see whether or not your name appears there.

2) Go ahead and ask for the "freeze" from all four credit monitoring agencies, as that should be an effective way to protect yourself.

Krebson Security, a reliable site, outlines information about the Equifax data breach and how to protect yourself. It recommends creating a freeze on your credit with the four credit reporting agencies. This will block anyone from opening an account in your name. There is a fee, and the best plan is to call the reporting agencies directly, but well worth it. If you need to unlock or unfreeze your credit, you can reverse the request.

Also, if you receive notices from other entities indicating your name may have inadvertently been placed on a list that was part of a data breach, such as the Colorado Judicial Department State Court Administrator's Office, placing a freeze on your credit with the reporting agencies will protect you as well.

If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call.