Two big data breaches are in the news this week. Marriott announced that approximately 500 million customer records may have been breached and Quora announced that user data of 100 million accounts may have been compromised.
Here are 5 things you should do if you think you may be a victim:
1. Be on the lookout for phishing emails.
When data breaches of this magnitude happen, it opens the door for hackers to take advantage of your worry by sending you phishing emails asking you to change your password, sign-in to monitor your activity or some other call to action to gain your information.
If you receive an email notifying you of the breach, it is best practice to go directly to the website to change your password instead of using the link provided in the message.
2. Change your passwords
Whenever a breach happens, you should always change your passwords. Protect yourself by using unique passwords for different online accounts. If you don’t use different passwords for all of your accounts, you should use this as an opportunity to do so.
Instead of using short, complex, and hard to remember passcodes, use passphrases such as BillsWifeSarah or Mycatsginger that are at least 8 characters in length and are not commonly used (e.g. password).
3. Turn on two-factor authentication
Enable two-factor authentication on all your online accounts and devices, whenever possible. So instead of just entering your password, you would enter a combination of 2 things, such as your password plus a one-time password or PIN received over text message.
4. Take steps to protect your credit
Check your credit reports for free with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com. Review your payment card statements for charges you don’t recognize. Place a fraud alert on your credit files so creditors verify that anyone seeking credit in your name is really you. Or you can request a free credit freeze on your accounts to block someone from opening new accounts in your name.
5. Stay Informed
Marriot and Quora are regularly updating and providing support to potential victims.
