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If all this news is chilling, there's more to consider. Even if you haven't yet been notified of a PII breach, someone out there may already have your name and social security number, so you need to protect yourself as best you can. Hopefully, you monitor your credit report on a regular basis. Another more secure option is to request a security freeze on your credit file. A "credit freeze" prevents anyone from opening new lines of credit (including yourself). So unless you are actively seeking a loan, more credit, or need to allow a background check, it's not a bad idea to lock that door. For further instructions, here are links to the three credit agencies:
Unless you have been a victim of identity theft, there is a fee (usually $5 - $10) to temporarily lift the freeze to apply for credit, insurance, rental housing, utilities or other services. And even with a freeze, a thief will not be prevented from making changes to your existing accounts, so you will still need to monitor your bank, credit card and insurance statements. Stay tuned for more info on keeping your personal information secure! |
