EQUIFAX DATA BREACH: WHAT YOU SHOULD DO NOW

Early in September Equifax, the premier credit rating agency in the USA, reported that its system had been hacked.  The breach meant that potentially millions of Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers and other information had been stolen, leaving many of us to wonder how vulnerable we might be to identity theft.

This breach was reported extensively in the NY Times and other newspapers. Following are some actions that you might want to follow in order to protect your identity. These are recommended by the Times. 

Most importantly is that you frequently change your PIN numbers and don't use the same pin for multiple uses.  (although Equifax says that no PINS were stolen in the breach).

Trying to remember one new PIN, not to mention a whole bunch of them, is way  beyond me. What I do is store PINS, and other critical information such as income tax and social security information, on a thumb drive that is only connected to the computer when I need to recall something. Other than that, the thumb drive lives unconnected in a drawer next to my right hand.

Don't use the same PIN for multiple applications. For example, your bank and Netflix, and so on. Once hacked, it is not a stretch for the hacker to use that PIN for other applications.

But, what to do about the Equifax breach apart from regularly changing and diversifying your PIN numbers?

1.  Find out whether your data been compromised? You can find out the likelihood that your information has been compromised by going to the Equifax website.

2. Freeze  your credit file. Contact the credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Eperian and TransUnion, and set up a freeze on each. You can either do this through the web or by phoning.

The Times article describes the whole process of freezing your credit -- and how to unfreeze it.