How to protect your information after a data breach

Upon receiving a data breach notification, it is crucial to first confirm its legitimacy by directly contacting the company involved. Scammers may send fake alerts to obtain sensitive information. Once a breach is confirmed, immediately change passwords for all affected accounts and any others that use the same credentials. Employ strong, unique passwords, ideally managed by a password manager. To enhance security, enable multi-factor authentication on accounts where available. This adds a second verification step, such as a code sent via text or an authentication app, making unauthorized access more difficult. Vigilantly monitor financial and online accounts for any suspicious activity or unauthorized transactions. Set up alerts for unusual activity and promptly report any discrepancies to your financial institution. Regularly check your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus for unfamiliar accounts or inquiries. If any suspicious information is found, dispute it with the respective credit bureau. For further protection, consider placing a credit freeze or a fraud alert on your credit report. A credit freeze restricts access to your report, hindering identity thieves from opening new ac... download the app to read more