Don’t Panic—Take Action: How to See If Your Data Was Breached and What to Do Next
In light of a recent data breach, as many as 272 million Social Security numbers have found their way into hacker forums. The breach originated from National Public Data, a Florida-based background check company. At Western State Bank, we believe it's our responsibility to keep our customers, friends, and neighbors informed about matters that may impact their financial security. That’s why we’re sharing this information as a courtesy, to help you take the necessary steps to protect yourself.
What Happened?
Hackers managed to steal Social Security numbers from National Public Data, exposing the personal information of millions of Americans. Although this breach is significant, it’s likely not as catastrophic as some reports suggest. However, breaches like this are a reminder of the importance of safeguarding your financial information.
How to Know if Your Information Was Stolen
To help individuals determine if they were affected, cybersecurity firm Pentester has created a tool that allows you to check if your information is part of the breach. You can access this tool by visiting
npd.pentester.com. This is a quick and easy way to find out if your Social Security number or other personal information may have been compromised.
Please note, you do not have to subscribe to their additional services in order to protect yourself. Our recommendations are completely free-- see below.What Can You Do to Protect Yourself?
One of the best steps you can take to protect yourself is to freeze your credit report with the three major credit bureaus:
Equifax,
Experian, and
TransUnion. A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report, making it much harder for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name. Here’s how it works:
- What is a Credit Freeze? A credit freeze blocks creditors from accessing your credit report, preventing them from approving new credit accounts in your name, whether they are fraudulent or legitimate. This is a powerful tool in stopping identity theft.
- How to Place a Credit Freeze: Placing a freeze on your credit report is straightforward and can be done online, by phone, or by mail. It’s also completely free. If you need to lift the freeze in the future, whether temporarily or permanently, you can do so by contacting the credit bureaus.
- How Long Does It Take? If you submit your freeze request online or by phone, the credit reporting agencies are required to freeze your report within one business day. By mail, the freeze will be in place within three business days. If you need to lift the freeze, it can be done within one hour online or by phone, or within three business days if done by mail.
Why You Should Act Now
Even if you don’t think you were directly affected by the National Public Data breach, it’s still a good idea to freeze your credit report. With cybercrime on the rise, especially in light of events like this breach, taking proactive steps to protect your financial information is crucial. Freezing your credit report is a simple, effective measure that can prevent scammers from accessing your bank accounts and opening fraudulent accounts in your name.
To learn more about placing a credit freeze and for detailed instructions on protecting your personal information, visit USA.gov.