2024 has been a year of major data breaches. Here are some examples:
- In August, National Public Data announced a data breach that occurred in December 2023. This breach potentially exposed up to 2.9 billion records, though the company reported only 1.3 million were affected.
- Other major breaches this year include those from Change Healthcare, AT&T, and Ticketmaster.
Considering the ongoing number of incidents, it’s crucial to take a proactive approach to protect yourself. Freezing your credit is the most effective step you can take.
Freezing your credit is important because it helps protect you from identity theft, especially after a data breach. When your credit is frozen, it restricts access to your credit report, making it difficult for identity thieves to open new accounts, such as credit cards or loans, in your name. Since unauthorized parties can’t access your credit report, they are less likely to successfully use your stolen information.
Additionally, a credit freeze is free, lasts indefinitely until you choose to unfreeze it, and can be easily managed online. By freezing your credit, you add a crucial layer of security that helps prevent potential financial fraud.
Steps to freeze your credit:
- Contact All Three Credit Bureaus: You need to place a freeze with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion by creating free online accounts.
- Online is Fastest: While phone and mail are options, online freezing is quicker.
- Unfreeze When Needed: If you need to apply for credit, you can temporarily or permanently lift the freeze.
