Recommendations: Personal Data Protection

Recommendations: Personal Data Protection

The University of Maryland estimates that 2,200 people a day (one every 39 seconds) fall victim to cybercriminals' theft of personal data. The criminals seek your personally identifiable information (PII), as it is called in the business.  This information can include but is not limited to:

·         Social Security number

·         Driver's license number

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·         Passport number

·         Taxpayer identification number

·         Patient identification number

·         Financial account or credit card number

·         Personal address and phone number

·         Biometric records, such as fingerprints, x-rays, or facial geometry

·         Date and place of birth

·         Mother's maiden name

·         Passwords

If this information is stolen, you should immediately do the following:

First, once you find out that you have been the victim of having your data stolen, if you have any kind of login with the company or agency that has notified you, immediately log on to your account and change your password. If possible, change your username also.  If you use the same password for other accounts, change those.  If a login offers two-factor authentication, take advantage of it.  Always send the authentication code to your cellphone; do not send it to your email. If any of the criminals have access to your email, they can control the account.

Second, you should freeze your credit and/or set up fraud alerts at all three credit reporting agencies for free. Doing this ensures that a hacker cannot take out a loan or credit card or perform many financial shenanigans in your name. Neither will you after the freeze unless you temporarily unfreeze your account. The contact information is:

 

Equifax Alerts

(800) 685-1111

Equifax Consumer Fraud Division
PO Box 740256,
Atlanta, GA 30374

Experian Fraud Center

(888) 397-3742

Experian
P.O. Box 9554,
Allen, TX 75013

Transunion Fraud Alert

(888) 909-8872

TransUnion Fraud Victim Assistance Department,
P.O. Box 2000,
Chester, PA 19016

Many banks and credit cards offer paid subscriptions for credit monitoring within their apps.  This offers a good one-stop look at what they call “Triple Bureau Protection” and makes them easy to monitor. The three credit bureaus are all monitored, and key information is sent to you -vs- you have to track it down. Remember that most monitoring services, free or paid, won't alert you if someone uses your name to collect a tax refund or claim benefits from Social Security, welfare, Medicare, Medicaid, or unemployment insurance.

Third, contact your bank and/or credit card company to cancel your cards and request a new one. If your banking information could be compromised, close your accounts and open new ones. Monitor your account(s) for fraudulent activity, and if you find any, report it immediately.

Fourth, if there is a chance that your driver’s license has been compromised, contact the DMV to report it. This can be done in RI online here. The state might flag your license number in case someone else tries to use it, or they might suggest that you apply for a duplicate.

Lastly, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) online at IdentityTheft.gov or by calling 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338).

Many will tell you to address credit and financial issues first, but I have found that passwords are the most critical issue to fix.

 

Larry Sullivan is the Director of Technical Services for Net Compliance Solutions, a cyber security firm based in Seekonk, MA.