Here is a bit of information regarding the Equifax Breach. According to this presentation the best thing you can do is to "freeze" your credit with the FOUR credit agencies (Equifax, TransUnion,Experian and Innovis) . If you need a new credit card, car loan or second mortgage, you will need to "thaw" your credit temporarily so your credit can be checked. Keep it open a couple of days then freeze it again.
Equifax is offering 1 year free credit monitoring service on their website for those suffering a breach. CNBC below suggests that you should consider NOT signing up for the service because by accepting free monitoring you automatically opt out of class action lawsuits that are sure to come. I suggest you accept credit monitoring which is worth approximately $26 per month or $312 for the year. Everyone reading this has most certainly been a part of a class action suit at one time or another. Has anyone ever gotten a dime??? Not me! and I've been involved in a lot of them over the years.
Equifax is offering 1 year free credit monitoring service on their website for those suffering a breach. CNBC below suggests that you should consider NOT signing up for the service because by accepting free monitoring you automatically opt out of class action lawsuits that are sure to come. I suggest you accept credit monitoring which is worth approximately $26 per month or $312 for the year. Everyone reading this has most certainly been a part of a class action suit at one time or another. Has anyone ever gotten a dime??? Not me! and I've been involved in a lot of them over the years.
Now for those of us who are a bit computer challenged, this nice lady will go through the steps we need to take to get the job done. She will apply online for Equifax free monitoring service and then go to the agencies to freeze her credit.
As you can see when she logged into Equifax she was told that her information was part of the breach. She was offered free credit monitoring. She was instructed to wait for confirmation email to complete her free monitoring service. I had to do that too. It took about 1 day. When I opened the email I was given instructions to get the job done. It was really easy.
The credit freeze is not difficult but might take a bit more time. Believe me, freezing your credit (especially if your information was compromised is SUPER IMPORTANT!
HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS?
Remember the Target breach? In that situation someone might have stolen your credit card. If they used the information to duplicate your card and started charging on it you "would not" be responsible for the charges. The Target breach was scary and inconvenient but not nearly as serious as the Equifax breach.
With Equifax data they have ALL your information. Your Name, address, date of birth, social security number, residence address . . . all the information they need to assume your identity and be granted loans for properties, cars, credit cards, etc. SCARRY? HELL YES!!! But you can manage your way through by doing the things listed in these two videos. If you need any further instructions you should be able to find your answers on YOUTUBE.com
CREDIT FREEZE - Locks out anyone from applying loans or credit
CREDIT MONITORING - Informs you if your information is being used by someone trying to profit from your identity.
Remember the Target breach? In that situation someone might have stolen your credit card. If they used the information to duplicate your card and started charging on it you "would not" be responsible for the charges. The Target breach was scary and inconvenient but not nearly as serious as the Equifax breach.
With Equifax data they have ALL your information. Your Name, address, date of birth, social security number, residence address . . . all the information they need to assume your identity and be granted loans for properties, cars, credit cards, etc. SCARRY? HELL YES!!! But you can manage your way through by doing the things listed in these two videos. If you need any further instructions you should be able to find your answers on YOUTUBE.com
CREDIT FREEZE - Locks out anyone from applying loans or credit
CREDIT MONITORING - Informs you if your information is being used by someone trying to profit from your identity.