OT: Equifax Data Breach, Danger of Identity Theft

nolabrew

Assuming my data was compromised (50/50 shot), I'm going to sue them in small claims court. 

TN_Sister_State

http://money.cnn.com/2017/09/08/technology/equifax-monitoring-services/index.html

Wolfie51sb

I've always figured that if I choose to do business with an online retailer, I'm assuming some risk that the retailer will be lax with its cyber security and my info will be at risk. What really pisses me off about this is that people have no choice that Equifax and the like have their personal information.

Add to the fact that apparently Equifax didn't know for two months that they had been hacked, and then sat on the info for more than a month, I wouldn't be surprised if the a$$holes at the helm decided this would be a good week to announce the breach because they knew hurricane news would dominate the landscape.

What sucks even more is the punishment will be a slap on the wrist -- if that -- to the people in charge. Certainly some low-level workers will be made the scapegoats.

bgebrent

HeavyG said:

bgebrent said:

As stated above, just freeze your accounts at all 3 companies and keep up with your PINs. 

There are four consumer credit bureaus, including Equifax, Experian, Innovis and Trans Union. 

Make sure you freeze all four 

HeavyG

Wolfie51sb said:

I've always figured that if I choose to do business with an online retailer, I'm assuming some risk that the retailer will be lax with its cyber security and my info will be at risk. What really pisses me off about this is that people have no choice that Equifax and the like have their personal information.

Add to the fact that apparently Equifax didn't know for two months that they had been hacked, and then sat on the info for more than a month, I wouldn't be surprised if the a$$holes at the helm decided this would be a good week to announce the breach because they knew hurricane news would dominate the landscape.

What sucks even more is the punishment will be a slap on the wrist -- if that -- to the people in charge. Certainly some low-level workers will be made the scapegoats.

A rational person would think that folks on all sides of the political spectrum could come to agreement on suitable regulations/fines for these sort of things but alas...

Wolfie51sb

HeavyG said:

Wolfie51sb said:

I've always figured that if I choose to do business with an online retailer, I'm assuming some risk that the retailer will be lax with its cyber security and my info will be at risk. What really pisses me off about this is that people have no choice that Equifax and the like have their personal information.

Add to the fact that apparently Equifax didn't know for two months that they had been hacked, and then sat on the info for more than a month, I wouldn't be surprised if the a$$holes at the helm decided this would be a good week to announce the breach because they knew hurricane news would dominate the landscape.

What sucks even more is the punishment will be a slap on the wrist -- if that -- to the people in charge. Certainly some low-level workers will be made the scapegoats.

A rational person would think that folks on all sides of the political spectrum could come to agreement on suitable regulations/fines for these sort of things but alas...

Like nearly everything else, some people will look to make this yet another political issue. Alas ...

HeavyG

Wolfie51sb said:

HeavyG said:

Wolfie51sb said:

I've always figured that if I choose to do business with an online retailer, I'm assuming some risk that the retailer will be lax with its cyber security and my info will be at risk. What really pisses me off about this is that people have no choice that Equifax and the like have their personal information.

Add to the fact that apparently Equifax didn't know for two months that they had been hacked, and then sat on the info for more than a month, I wouldn't be surprised if the a$$holes at the helm decided this would be a good week to announce the breach because they knew hurricane news would dominate the landscape.

What sucks even more is the punishment will be a slap on the wrist -- if that -- to the people in charge. Certainly some low-level workers will be made the scapegoats.

A rational person would think that folks on all sides of the political spectrum could come to agreement on suitable regulations/fines for these sort of things but alas...

Like nearly everything else, some people will look to make this yet another political issue. Alas ...

It definitely is a political issue.

JohnInCarolina

Wolfie51sb said:

HeavyG said:

Wolfie51sb said:

I've always figured that if I choose to do business with an online retailer, I'm assuming some risk that the retailer will be lax with its cyber security and my info will be at risk. What really pisses me off about this is that people have no choice that Equifax and the like have their personal information.

Add to the fact that apparently Equifax didn't know for two months that they had been hacked, and then sat on the info for more than a month, I wouldn't be surprised if the a$$holes at the helm decided this would be a good week to announce the breach because they knew hurricane news would dominate the landscape.

What sucks even more is the punishment will be a slap on the wrist -- if that -- to the people in charge. Certainly some low-level workers will be made the scapegoats.

A rational person would think that folks on all sides of the political spectrum could come to agreement on suitable regulations/fines for these sort of things but alas...

Like nearly everything else, some people will look to make this yet another political issue. Alas ...

This isn't a left or right issue in my view so much as a "the system is broken" type deal.

DMW

The breach was related to a 9-year old vulnerability that was only discovered and disclosed this year:
https://qz.com/1073221/the-hackers-who-broke-into-equifax-exploited-a-nine-year-old-security-flaw/

Buckle up, I'll bet there will be more of these in the near future.