This news flash came across my screen yesterday evening …
“Cyberattack May Have Affected 143 Million Customers”
I was in the middle of something, but a quick and dirty calculation determines that there are approximately 146 million adults in the U.S. So … basically each and every one of us have been exposed to potential loss.
So, what happened? According to an article in the New York Times …
Equifax, one of the three major consumer credit reporting agencies, said on Thursday that hackers had gained access to company data that potentially compromised sensitive information for 143 million American consumers, including Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers.
The attack on the company represents one of the largest risks to personally sensitive information in recent years, and is the third major cybersecurity threat for the agency since 2015.
“This is about as bad as it gets,” said Pamela Dixon, executive director of the World Privacy Forum, a nonprofit research group. “If you have a credit report, chances are you may be in this breach. The chances are much better than 50 percent.” 98% according to my calculations …
“On a scale of 1 to 10 in terms of risk to consumers, this is a 10,” said Avivah Litan, a fraud analyst at Gartner.
In addition to the other material, hackers were also able to retrieve names, birth dates and addresses. Credit card numbers for 209,000 consumers were stolen, while documents with personal information used in disputes for 182,000 people were also taken.
More information, no doubt, will be coming in the next few days. I am not a credit analyst, but my best advice tips to all for at least the next few weeks…
- Use credit and debit cards as little as possible. Deal in cash.
- Do not use those handy phone apps that allow you to scan coupons at the register via your cell phone.
- Check your bank balance DAILY and report immediately any transactions that are not yours.
- Change your passwords … today … for any online services that store your credit information, ie., Amazon, online pharmacies, banking websites, credit card companies, utility companies, etc.
I do not know the scope of this intrusion, and thus far no widescale theft has been reported. However, my concern is partly with the fact that the files were accessed from mid-May to July, Equifax discovered the intrusion on July 29, and we were only informed on September 7th. What have they been doing for 41 days??? Adding to the mystery … three senior executives, including the company’s chief financial officer, John Gamble, sold shares worth almost $1.8 million in the days after the breach was discovered.
Equifax has created a website to help consumers determine whether their data was at risk. I tried to check it out in advance of this posting, but the print was too small and dim for me to be able to see.
My last piece of advice, pending additional information, is buy into no scheme! When these things happen, typically the snakes come out from under the rocks, and you will get offers for ‘credit protection’ and promises that, for a fee or course, a company will guarantee your online safety. Do Not Believe Them!!!! They are shysters and crooks. Be sure to check your bank balance daily, your credit card statements, and you will likely be fine. The one thing to be clear on … if you find a strange transaction on bank or credit card statement … report it immediately! If you do so, you will likely not be out a penny.
I went through a similar hack a few years ago, and because I reported it the day it happened (I am a CPA and am OCD about money, therefore I check all accounts daily) I was reimbursed 100%, including overdraft fees that occurred as a result of the theft and even given a $50 bonus from our bank.
Is there any way to avoid being vulnerable to these hacks in the future? Probably not, short of going completely off the financial grid and dealing with everything from auto purchases, insurance, and utility bills to groceries and medical bills in cash. That is unwieldy, inconvenient, and simply not an option for most of us in the 21st century. But be smart … look at those credit statements, keep tabs on your bank balances, and use cash in places like restaurants, shops, etc.
Equifax is an international credit reporting agency, so there may be exposure outside the U.S., though I am not aware of it. Take reasonable precautions, wherever you live, for this is the age of technology and, as always, there are people out there looking to use that technology for all the wrong things.
Discover more from Filosofa's Word
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Filosofa's Word 
!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Synergy 360 and commented:
Check if your data is at risk?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks for the re-blog!
LikeLike
Pingback: A Few Updates … | Filosofa's Word
Thanks for sharing. I checked ours and mine likely wasn’t impacted but my husband’s was. South Carolina had a massive tax breach within the last couple years (I think it was) recently. Nothing is safe, sigh.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This story was rather buried under all the hurricane news, so I feared many people had not likely seen it. With every technological ‘advance’, we will continue to also see new exposure. My fear is that this is only the beginning. If you really want to read something scary, but altogether too feasible, read a book titled … I think it is “One Second After” by William Forstchen . I did some research after reading it and it is all highly possible. Scary, but it will hold your interest.
Since I don’t know exactly where in South Carolina you live, I must ask … are you in the potential path of Irma or her aftermath? Please keep safe and know that I am thinking of you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll have to check that out. It really is, just thinking about a group pulling off the ultimate hack could wipe out money, identities, medical records, etc. yikes.
I’m just south of Charlotte, and the storm has shifted so much that instead of the eye passing over as one path had, it’s shifted so much that it’ll just be a bad thunderstorm deal for us with tornado risk. I saw last night the expect it to strengthen back to a 4, scary stuff 😞
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad to hear you aren’t in the direct path, but watch out for those tornadoes! Take care, batten down the hatches, and I hope you don’t lose electricity! Hugs, my friend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Fingers crossed🤞
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ugh. This is very not good. That data is probably lining a lot of pockets on the darknet. I hope we’re okay here in Australia but distance is no guarantee these days. 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it IS scary stuff. I’m not sure about Australia, but I’ll try to find out and let you know. I would guess Oz is affected also, because Equifax is an international credit reporting agency, and as such I think they do business throughout the west. Just take the precaution of checking your bank balance frequently. Strange world we are living in, yes?
LikeLike
-sigh- strange and nasty, yes. Cash is looking awfully good at the moment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, cash and a little log cabin in the remote backwoods of Canada! 😉
LikeLike
Too cold! Come south of the equator. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds good to me!!! I think it would be strange, though, to have Christmas in summer … 😉
LikeLike
You get used to it. Salad and fly swatters instead of roast and brussel sprouts…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Okay, but you need to know one thing. I do NOT do brussel sprouts under ANY circumstances … not even under threat of death or penalty of law!!! 😀
LikeLike
Glory be! You’re a good woman. Brussel sprouts are the spawn of the devil. 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so relieved! I was a bit afraid that if Brussel sprouts was one of your favourite veggies, you might be offended by my remark! My daughter actually loves them, but I refuse to cook them because I cannot even abide the smell! 🙂
LikeLike
No fear. I can’t stand the smell either. My mother made them when I was a kid – limp, overcooked, slightly…slimy? -shudder-
LikeLiked by 1 person
A kindred spirit you are!!! We will get along well! 😉
LikeLike
lol – sprout haters unite!
LikeLiked by 1 person
British people are widely affected too. Equifax is one of (and the oldest) credit scoring agency in Britain. Major banks like Halifax, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and companies like British Gas, British Telecom (BT) and Tesco are amongst some of the big companies using Equifax. Estimates are that 44 million people in the UK are affected. It is likely higher, as just about everyone over the age of 18 will be documented in the Equifax data.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A list of some of the companies I found using Equifax
Barclays
Halifax & Bank of Scotland
HSBC
Natwest
RBS.
Many stores and credit card providers also run credit checks with Equifax. These include Barclaycard, American Express, Capital One, Santander and Tesco Bank.
If you are taking out a new phone or utility contract with BT, EE, Carphone Warehouse, O2, Vodafone or Virgin then your Equifax file may be checked.
Many high-street banks check your Equifax report before offering you a loan. As does some P2P lenders, such as Zopa and RateSetter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I suspect there is more to this than we know right now. I wasn’t sure if it was more widespread than just U.S. accounts, so thanks for that info. I’m still puzzled and angered about that 41 day delay … something is not right.
LikeLike
You know Jill. I wonder about some of these big data security breaches too…
What if…. And this is pure theory…
But what if governments are hiring hacking specialists to get this data? Imagine how easy it would be to shut down government dissenters of any form. A flip of a few switches could cut off access to wages, bank accounts, social assistance, and all forms of modern day survival by wiping out a person’s identity. Impossible? I think not. 😟
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmmmmm …. no, not impossible certainly. But … I don’t know … I will have to think on this one a bit.
Hmmmm … 🤔 … I suppose it would be naive to assume that the same methods Hitler used nearly 80 years ago would be used again today, in this age of technology, to control the masses. Why have ‘brown shirts’ patrolling the streets and marching through town when you can accomplish the same with a few mouse clicks … but …
I am not sure that I am quite ready to believe your theory, but … I am also not stupid enough to discredit it. We are living in strange times, untested waters … let me ponder this one a bit. 🤔
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good wake-up call Jill
LikeLiked by 1 person
We take this ‘ease of use’ and convenience thing too far sometimes, I think … we get complacent and forget to be ever-vigilant. On the flip side, I suspect there is far more to this story than is known at present … I am hearing some disturbing things. Time will tell … meanwhile, trust not! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well said!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on The Militant Negro™.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing this, JB!
LikeLike
I hope you’re not affected.
xxx Cwtch xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I imagine that if anybody looked at my bank balances they would just laugh and move on to greener pastures! 😀 xxx Cwtch Mawr, dear friend xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Jill,
I appreciate the heads up.
Because I was pick pocketed in 2014 while I was doing one of those overseas tours, I had frozen my data at all three major credit rating companies so that no one could access these accounts without my knowledge. I will have to check that this is still the case.
Thanks for this info and Hugs, Gronda
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are most welcome! With all the news of Irma, this news rather got buried, and I feared some may not have seen it. Keep safe … thinking about you. Hugs!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person