What should you do when you receive a data breach notification?

Data breach notifications tell us that Personal data has been hacked. In 2024 alone, major data breaches occurred in National public data, Changing health care and Ticket managerThis exposes millions of consumers to the risk of financial fraud and identity theft.

“On average, we see eight to nine data breach incidents every day,” he said. Weiqing SunDirector of Master’s Programs in Cybersecurity at the University of Toledo. “More frequent and more significant data breaches will occur and will continue to impact every one of us.”

If you receive a data breach letter in the mail, don’t ignore it. It will notify you that an unauthorized party has gained access to internal company data and may possess your personally identifiable information such as your name and phone number. Social security number And more.

Here’s everything you should know about data breach notifications.

What’s in a data breach notification?

Data breach notifications typically include the following information:

• Details about how and when the breach occurred
• A list of your personal data that may have been leaked to hackers
• An explanation of what the company is doing to protect your data in the aftermath
• Tips to help you keep your identity safe

Companies will regularly pay for free Identity theft or Credit monitoring Services to affected customers. Activation codes are provided in the message, but you must create the account yourself to take advantage of the offer. Depending on the severity of the breach, free coverage lasts up to two years in most cases.

Identity theft protection services help monitor your sensitive data on the dark web. Sometimes, these services can alert you that your data has been compromised Even before you receive a notification. Most importantly, it comes with identity recovery services in case your identity is stolen.

“Try to take advantage of these services to get protection,” Sun said.

When and how will the company send me a data breach notification?

All states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands have it Laws passed Require companies to notify customers of data breaches. The length of time varies by state, but notifications are typically sent within 60 days after a data leak is discovered.

Data breach notifications come in the mail. If you receive a notification by Email, text or phone callit is likely a scam. If you have any doubts about the legitimacy of a notice claiming your sensitive data has been compromised, contact the company directly or search online for breach coverage, Sun said.

In addition to affected customers, businesses that suffer a cyberattack may alert state attorney general’s offices, law enforcement, the three major credit bureaus, and Securities and Exchange Commissiondepending on the severity of the violation or state regulations.

What should I do if I receive a letter in the mail?

If you receive a data breach notification in the mail, follow the advice in the letter and take it seriously. You should be on the lookout for phishing attacks and regularly verify your information Experian, TransUnion and Equifax Credit reports for unauthorized accounts opened in your name.

If a company offers free identity theft protection, sign up for it. After your membership expires, you’ll need to decide whether you want to pay to continue the service or sign up for another provider.

If your data is involved in another data breach in the future, you can sign up for additional free services that will be provided to you later.

What are some steps I can take to protect my data?

Even if you don’t use an identity theft protection service, here are four things you can do for free to protect yourself:

1. Change your password on the hacked account, along with any other accounts with the same login credentials.

2. Review your credit and debit card statements at least once a month and look for any anomalies

3. Freeze your credit So that no one can apply for a credit line in your name (you will have to unfreeze it yourself if you want to open a new account)

4. Stay vigilant of Phishing attacks By cybercriminals who use your leaked information to trick you into sharing financial account information or other sensitive data