Imagine opening your email to find a notification that your personal data has been compromised. It can be your banking details, your email password, or even something as sensitive as your identification documents.
Data breaches are no longer a rare occurrence; they happen every day. When your information falls into the wrong hands, the consequences can range from minor annoyances to devastating identity theft.
There are concrete steps you can take to protect yourself and limit the damage. Below are 8 crucial steps you can take when you receive a data breach notification.
Step 1: Confirm the Breach Notification
Receiving an email or message that your data has been compromised can be alarming, but before you take any action, you need to make sure the notification is legitimate.
Scammers often take advantage of high-profile data breaches by sending out fake breach notifications to trick you into giving away sensitive information. They might include links to fraudulent websites or ask you to “verify your account”.
How to Verify a Breach Notification:
- Check the sender's email address.
- Look carefully at the sender’s email. Official notifications usually come from a company’s domain (e.g., @companyname.com), not a random or misspelled address.
- Avoid clicking emails immediately. Do not click on any links or download attachments until you are sure the email is legitimate. Go directly to the company’s official website to look for breach announcements or contact customer support.
- Search for news reports: Major data breaches are typically covered by news outlets. A quick online search can help you verify if the breach has been publicly reported.
- Contact the company directly: Call or email the company using the contact information provided on their official website (not from the email). Seek clarification directly.
Signs of a Fake Notification:
- Urgent or threatening language demanding immediate action.
- Requests for personal details, passwords, or financial information.
- Poor grammar or awkward phrasing.
- Links that lead to websites with misspelled URLs.
Step 2: Determine What Information Was Compromised
Once you have confirmed that the breach notification is legitimate, your next step is to understand what data was exposed.
Types of Information That Could Be Breached:
- Login Credentials: Usernames and passwords.
- Financial Information: Credit card numbers, bank account details.
- Personal Identification Data: Full name, address, date of birth, identification number.
- Health Data: Medical records, insurance details.
- Contact Details: Email addresses, phone numbers.
Companies are usually required to specify what type of data was compromised. Review the notice carefully for details. If the notification is not clear or lacks details, contact the company directly to clarify what information was exposed.
Step 3: Change Your Passwords Immediately
If your login credentials are part of the breach, or even if there is a chance that they are – change your password immediately. This can prevent cybercriminals from accessing your accounts. Your priority should be of the following:
- Accounts related to the breached service
- Financial accounts
- Email accounts
- Other platforms that use the same password
Best Practices for Creating Strong Passwords:
- Make It Long and Complex: Passwords should be at least 12 characters. Combine uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
- Avoid Common Words and Patterns: Avoid passwords like 123456, password, yourname123, or p@assw0rd.
- Use Unique Passwords for Each Account: Reusing passwords across multiple accounts increases the risk. If one password is compromised, all linked accounts become vulnerable.
Keeping track of complex, unique passwords can be daunting. Use a password manager that can help you store and organise your passwords securely, so you only need to remember one master password.
Step 4: Monitor Financial Accounts Closely
When financial information is exposed in a data breach, quick action is essential to protect your money. Even if your bank account or credit card details were not directly involved, staying vigilant helps you catch any unusual activity before it escalates.
Steps to Monitor Your Accounts Effectively:
- Review Recent Transactions: Check your bank statements, credit card activity, and other financial accounts for any unauthorised charges or withdrawals. Even small, insignificant amounts can be a sign of fraud.
- Set Up Transaction Alerts: Most banks and credit card companies allow you to enable real-time notifications for any activity. You can get alerts via SMS or email for purchases above a certain amount, online transactions, or foreign transactions.
- Check Your Bank Accounts Daily: Regularly logging in to review your accounts helps you detect issues early. Fraudulent activity can happen quickly, and the sooner you spot it, the easier it is to resolve.
- Look for Red Flags: Look out for charges that you do not recognise, transactions from unfamiliar locations and changes in account information and/or contact information.
If You Spot Any Suspicious Activity:
- Report it Immediately: Contact your bank or credit card provider as soon as you notice something suspicious. Most financial institutions offer 24/7 fraud reporting hotlines.
- Freeze or Lock Your Card: Many banking apps now allow you to temporarily freeze your card to prevent further charges while investigating the issue.
- Request a Replacement Card: If your card details have been compromised, request a new card with a different number.
Proactively monitoring your financial accounts can stop fraud in its tracks and protect your hard-earned money from falling into the wrong hands.
Step 6: Enable Fraud Alerts
If freezing your credit feels too restrictive or is not immediately necessary, enabling a fraud alert can be a valuable alternative. A fraud alert notifies lenders to take extra precautions when verifying your identity before approving new credit. This makes it harder for identity thieves to open accounts in your name.
What is a Fraud Alert?
A fraud alert is a notice added to your credit report that signals to lenders and creditors to verify your identity carefully before extending credit. This can include contacting you directly to confirm that you are the one applying.
Setting up a fraud alert requires you to contact credit agencies like Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. When you set up a fraud alert with one credit bureau, they are typically required to notify the others.
After placing a fraud alert, be attentive to any calls, emails, or letters from lenders asking for identity verification. This is part of the protection process, so respond promptly to avoid delays in legitimate credit applications.
By enabling a fraud alert, you add an additional layer of security to your financial life, making it more difficult for identity thieves to exploit your information.
Step 7: Check for Other Compromised Accounts
When one account is breached, there is a risk that your other accounts could also be vulnerable, especially if you have reused passwords or similar login details. Cybercriminals often exploit this by trying your compromised credentials on multiple platforms – a tactic known as credential stuffing.
How to Identify Other Compromised Accounts:
- Use a Data Breach Checker: Tools like Have I Been Pwned can tell you if your email addresses or usernames have been part of other breaches. Simply enter your email, and the tool will show which breaches your information was exposed in.
- Check Your Password Manager: If you use a password manager, many have built-in features to alert you if any of your stored passwords have been found in a data breach.
- Review Your Accounts Manually: Think of all the platforms and services you use regularly (social media, email, online banking, shopping sites). Log in and check for any unusual activity, such as changes to profile information, messages/post not originating from you, or notifications from login attempts from unfamiliar devices or locations
Step 8: Stay Alert for Signs of Identity Theft
Even after taking all the necessary steps to secure your accounts, your information might still be out there. Cybercriminals can misuse compromised data months or even years after a breach. Staying vigilant for signs of identity theft is crucial to catching any fraudulent activity early.
Common Signs of Identity Theft:
- Unfamiliar Transactions or Charges: Unexpected purchases or withdrawals from your bank or credit card accounts.
- Bills for Services You Did Not Use: Receiving bills or account statements for services you never signed up for.
- Collection Calls for Unknown Debts: Being contacted by debt collectors about loans or credit lines you did not open.
- Denied Credit Applications: Being denied credit despite having a good credit history could indicate someone has damaged your credit by opening fraudulent accounts.
- Changes to Your Personal Records: Receiving notifications about changes to your address or contact information that you did not make.
- Unauthorised Logins or Account Lockouts: Receiving alerts of login attempts from unfamiliar locations.
What to Do if You Suspect Identity Theft:
- Contact the affected institution
- File a police report
- Report to authorities
- Monitor your credit report
- COnsider an identity theft protection service
Additional Tips for Preventing Future Breaches
While you cannot control when or how a company suffers a data breach, you can take steps to minimise your risk and protect your information. Here are some proactive habits to safeguard your digital life:
- Regularly Update Your Passwords: Change your passwords at least every 6-12 months, especially for sensitive accounts like banking, email, and social media. This helps limit the damage if your credentials are ever exposed.
- Use a Password Manager: A password manager generates and stores complex, unique passwords for each account, making it easier to practice good password hygiene.
- Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Whenever possible, enable MFA to add a layer of protection. Even if someone gets your password, they will not be able to log in without the additional verification step.
- Be Wary of Phishing Attempts: Cybercriminals often exploit breaches by sending phishing emails or messages. Always double-check links and avoid providing sensitive information unless you are sure of the sender’s legitimacy.
- Keep Your Software and Devices Updated: Regularly update your operating systems, apps, and antivirus software. Updates often include security patches that protect against known vulnerabilities.
- Limit the Data You Share Online: Limit what information you share publicly on social media.
- Use a VPN on Public Wi-Fi: When connecting to public Wi-Fi networks (e.g., cafes, airports), use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt your connection and keep your data secure.
- Regularly Check Your Credit Reports
- Stay Informed on Cybersecurity Best Practices
Be One Step Ahead of Cyber Criminals
Data breaches are an unfortunate reality of our digital lives, but they do not have to spell disaster. By acting quickly and following these steps, you can protect your personal information, mitigate damage, and prevent future risks. Remember, the key to staying secure is a combination of vigilance, strong security habits, and knowing how to respond when things go wrong.
