Checklist to Safeguard Against a Data Breach

1. Determine What Information Was Compromised:

  • Verify the legitimacy of any breach notification emails.
  • Check credit monitoring software for breach alerts.
  • Review the company’s recent press releases on their official website.

2. Secure Your Accounts:

  • Change passwords and PINS immediately for all compromised accounts.
  • Use a password manager to generate new strong, randomized passwords for all accounts with the compromised password.
  • Enroll in two-factor authentication for added security.

3. Actively Monitor and Lock Down Your Credit File:

  • Create accounts with major credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion, Equifax).
  • Check your credit report every three months.
  • Verify balances in retirement accounts and special needs trusts.
  • Lock your credit and Social Security number to prevent unauthorized access.

4. Check for Any Suspicious Behavior on Your Devices

  • Be vigilant about unusual activity within your online accounts and devices.
  • Strengthen the integrity of your passwords, do not reuse passwords across multiple accounts, and add two-step verification.

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