When you get an email or a notification letter by mail telling you there has been a data breach at a company you do business with, the natural instinct is to ignore it.
In the first half of 2024, more than a billion people saw their information leaked online as the result of a data breach, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center — a nearly 500% increase from the same period in 2023.
Following a breach, depending on which information was compromised, you may find yourself on the receiving end of targeted scams or identity thieves. Here’s how to protect yourself, and what to do if you’re part of a breach.
Take preventive measures
Unless you are operating off the grid, the odds are your personal information is being spread on the internet. And the more information that fraudsters can piece together about you, the higher risk you run of becoming a victim. “If you have the same password anywhere else, they can log in to all your online accounts.
To keep your information as private as possible, practice these tips:
1. Use a password manager
Sign up for a password manager for a service that does it for you and safely stores your passwords in a safe place. A password manager is a really good thing because it creates unique and complex passwords that you don’t have to remember automatically.
2. Avoid email or text links from strangers
If you receive an email or text from someone not in your address book or a text from an unfamiliar number, avoid clicking on any such link. It only takes a 10 second voice print to copy the sound of your voice and gain access to accounts you have with voice activated access.
3. Skip QR codes when possible
Always ask for a paper menu. Its impossible to tell a good QR code from one that’s going to hack into your phone and install malware.
4. Always use credit cards online instead of debit cards
If a fraudster gets hold of your debit payment credentials, it is always better that the card is a credit card and not a debit bank card, A credit card usually offers better fraud protections than your debit card and you don’t want strangers to gain access to your bank account and savings you have.
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