As I’m sure you know, last week there was a massive leak of social security numbers. I covered it on TV, but I didn’t think it was worth writing about in my blog. I was wrong. This is a very big data breach, and you need to check if it affects you. Here’s how:
Check your social on https://npd.pentester.com and https://www.npdbreach.com. If you find your social security number has been leaked, there are two things you should do right now.
1) Make sure you have multi-factor authentication set up on every important financial account. Use your phone, not your email. (If someone hacks your email, your multi-factor is defeated.) If someone steals your phone, it will be much harder for them to get into your accounts.
2) Freeze your credit reports with the three main credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can contact each agency directly; here are the details on how to do it:
Equifax
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348-5788
1-800-349-9960
Experian
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013
1-888-397-3742
TransUnion
P.O. Box 160
Woodlyn, PA 19094
1-888-909-8872
Pro tip: Do not pay for monitoring services. They are a rip-off. They truly have no value at all, and the fact that they have the nerve to sell you something that they should already be doing is insulting.
I know this is a true pain in the butt. However, it will also make absconding with your identity a pain in the butt for the hackers.
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