Last week I posted this blog sharing my thoughts on the Equifax Hack.
http://blog.compnology.com/2017/09/equifax-hack.html
Since then many questions have arose. I hope to address them here.
http://blog.compnology.com/2017/09/equifax-hack.html
Since then many questions have arose. I hope to address them here.
Where can I check if I'm affected?
Many are paranoid to trust what's out there. After the Equifax hack, I don't blame them.
If you want to do the ‘check’ the site is here:
(WAIT! Read below first)
https://www.equifaxsecurity2017.com/potential-impact/
It redirects you to a ‘trustedID Premier’ site. The whole thing feels wacky – but the process is legit. Once you enter your last name and last 6 digits SSN, your told your probably are affected.
Then you fill out a form to enroll. This enrollment entitles them to advertise to you and share your personal info with other financial institutions. So I don’t like that. That’s the price you pay to use a service instead of monitoring it yourself.
If you want to do the ‘check’ the site is here:
(WAIT! Read below first)
https://www.equifaxsecurity2017.com/potential-impact/
It redirects you to a ‘trustedID Premier’ site. The whole thing feels wacky – but the process is legit. Once you enter your last name and last 6 digits SSN, your told your probably are affected.
Then you fill out a form to enroll. This enrollment entitles them to advertise to you and share your personal info with other financial institutions. So I don’t like that. That’s the price you pay to use a service instead of monitoring it yourself.
What if I'm NOT affected?
Take the perspective that you have been affected.
Remember the credit agencies are ‘for profit’ and Equifax is treating this hack in a manner to protect their financial future. They have sites to ‘check’ if your affected, but there’s all kinds of ‘strings attached’ once you take that approach.
If you check with Equifax and they say you’re not affected, would you rest at east and move on? I wouldn’t. If you find out you are affected, then what? I suggest to supersede the ‘check if your affected’ approach.
Take the perspective that you have been affected.
Remember the credit agencies are ‘for profit’ and Equifax is treating this hack in a manner to protect their financial future. They have sites to ‘check’ if your affected, but there’s all kinds of ‘strings attached’ once you take that approach.
If you check with Equifax and they say you’re not affected, would you rest at east and move on? I wouldn’t. If you find out you are affected, then what? I suggest to supersede the ‘check if your affected’ approach.
Go Beyond Checking.
• Get your credit report.
https://www.annualcreditreport.com is the only government-authorized site where you can request free a copy of your credit report. I just got mine from Experian. Review it. Set an outlook reminder in 90 days, pull from TransUnion. Repeat with Equifax. In a year do it again.
• Review and Monitor your financial accounts.
• Review and Monitor your medical records and health insurance.
• Freeze your credit.
I know this sounds nuts, but it’s not. https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0497-credit-freeze-faqs is the Federal site that explains. Read it through. Pretty clear. I put a freeze on mine. I can lift it when needed, no biggie.
Here is the federal trade commission site on the facts. https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2017/09/equifax-data-breach-what-do
https://www.annualcreditreport.com is the only government-authorized site where you can request free a copy of your credit report. I just got mine from Experian. Review it. Set an outlook reminder in 90 days, pull from TransUnion. Repeat with Equifax. In a year do it again.
• Review and Monitor your financial accounts.
• Review and Monitor your medical records and health insurance.
• Freeze your credit.
I know this sounds nuts, but it’s not. https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0497-credit-freeze-faqs is the Federal site that explains. Read it through. Pretty clear. I put a freeze on mine. I can lift it when needed, no biggie.
Here is the federal trade commission site on the facts. https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2017/09/equifax-data-breach-what-do
Did I do it?
Yup. I’ve went through it all. Do the above 4 steps for you, your spouse, parents, kids, and any next of kin. This was a game changer, let’s not risk it. This is going to haunt people for years.
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