143 million US consumers were compromised when hackers accessed the Equifax database. The breach apparently took place from May 13 - July 30. It compromised people’s Social Security numbers, addresses, and credit card information. I just used this link to see if my data had been accessed. It looks like I wasn't hacked this time but it brings to light the continuous concern in our digital world. Here are some tips from Realtor.com (September 15, 2017)
What You Should Do:
Check your exposure. To see whether the Equifax breach affected you, go to https://trustedidpremier.com/eligibility/eligibility.html
Freeze your accounts. If you have been affected, contact each of the big credit-reporting companies immediately to freeze your credit, security experts recommend. You can either do this online or by calling them. Equifax: 800-349-9960; Experian: 888‑397‑3742; TransUnion: 888-909-8872. You will still be able to use your credit cards, even with freezes in place, but no one will be able to check credit scores and personal information without your permission. You can also undo the freezes at any time, though that does often require a small fee.
Continue to monitor your credit. “It might be worth signing up for a credit monitoring service,” says Pete Mills, senior vice president of residential policy at the Mortgage Bankers Association. “It’s certainly easier to undo a fraudulent account within a few days” than to wait a few months to address it.
Source: “Why the Equifax Breach Might Make It Harder to Buy a Home – and What You Can Do,” realtor.com® (Sept. 15, 2017)