Data Breached? How to Regain Control After Your Personal Information Becomes Exposed

Data breaches can expose sensitive information, leading to devastating consequences like identity theft, financial fraud, and unauthorized account access.Unsurprisingly, cybercriminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated, continuing to exploit vulnerabilities in both businesses and personal data systems. What’s so unsettling is that these massive data breaches are becoming common.

One of the most alarming breaches this year involved National Public Data (NPD), a company that aggregates data from various public and private sources. In this breach, the personal information of nearly 3 billion individuals was compromised, including Social Security numbers and addresses.

Another high-profile 2024 breach involved AMD (Advanced Micro Devices), which suffered its second major cyberattack in a year. This breach exposed internal data, including sensitive user credentials and detailed internal reports.

Unfortunately, the personal information obtained through these breaches is now for sale on the dark web, and those affected are at immediate risk of fraud and identity theft.

Freezing your credit file, ChexSystems files, and NCTUE files is crucial after a data breach because it helps safeguard your financial identity. By freezing these files, you block unauthorized access to credit, bank accounts, and utility services, significantly reducing the risk of identity theft and financial loss. This proactive step gives you control over who can view or use your information, offering peace of mind during a vulnerable time.

Data breach defense actions

1. Freeze your credit file

  • Contact credit bureaus: Reach out to the three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
  • Submit your request: You can request a freeze online, by phone, or by mail. You’ll need to provide personal information such as your Social Security number, birth date, and address.
  • Receive a PIN/Password: After the freeze is in place, you’ll receive a PIN or password to unfreeze your file when needed.

Resources:

2. Freeze your ChexSystems file

  • Visit ChexSystems online: Go to the ChexSystems website and request a security freeze.
  • Provide necessary information: Submit your personal information, including Social Security number, and follow the prompts to complete the request.
  • Confirm the freeze: ChexSystems will send you a confirmation letter with a PIN or password to manage the freeze.

Resource: ChexSystems: https://www.chexsystems.com/security-freeze/place-freeze

3. Freeze your NCTUE file

  • Contact NCTUE: The National Consumer Telecom & Utilities Exchange (NCTUE) allows you to place a security freeze on your file. You can do this by phone or online.
  • Submit your details: Provide the necessary personal information and follow the instructions to complete the freeze.
  • Receive a PIN: Like the credit bureaus, NCTUE will give you a PIN or password to manage the freeze.

Resource: NCTUE: https://www.exchangeservicecenter.com/Freeze/#/

Take the next step!

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Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. (“PPLSI”) provides access to identity theft services through membership-based participation. IDShield is a product of PPLSI. All Licensed Private Investigators are licensed in the state of Oklahoma. The information made available in this blog is meant to provide general information and is not intended to provide professional advice, render an opinion, or provide a recommendation as to a specific matter. The blog post is not a substitute for competent and professional advice. Information contained in the blog may be provided by authors who could be third-party paid contributors. All information by authors is accepted in good faith; however, PPLSI makes no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of such information.