Do you suspect or has it been reported that your account has been compromised?

Take note!!! Be concerned but there are a few steps you can take immediately to protect your account and to limit the damage.

Study the details about the breach.

Look closely to learn what happened. What personal and sensitive data of yours was included? Determine what information you need to protect. Look for date and time. The breach could have happened a long time back. Cybercriminals sit in victims’ networks for months even years before detection. Some breaches are not immediately made public and in my humble opinion this should we outlawed a discussion for another day.

Change your passwords.

Lock down your accounts with a new password. Do not use the same password for any of your accounts. Do not store any of your passwords on your computer. We know its cumbersome to write a password in a notebook, but this is the safest provided you protect your notebook like a wallet filled with cash.

Take extra steps if your financial data was breached.

If your bank account or credit card numbers were included in a breach immediately alert your bank to possible fraud. Check you bank statements for charges you do not recognize. Review you credit reports. Most credit reporting bureaus provide free credit checks including TransUnion and Experian and Clear Score. Ensure that no new accounts, loans, or cards have been opened in your name.

Visit hack reporting sites like https://haveibeenpwned.com/ to check if your email address is in a data breach!