Looks like Equifax was breached

[MichaelB]

News report https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/07/cre...entially-affect-143-million-us-consumers.html

Credit reporting firm Equifax says data breach could potentially affect 143 million US consumers
Equifax said data on 143 million U.S. customers was obtained in a breach.
The breach was discovered July 29.
Personal data including birth dates, credit card numbers and more were obtained in the breach.

Looks like they've waited 5 weeks to tell us. Now we'll wait and see what they suggest we do - besides subscribe to their credit protection service.

This is bad news. Consumers need some type of protection from this.

ETA - Equifax web site set up for consumers to verify if they are affected. https://www.equifaxsecurity2017.com. The link includes the Equifax press release

quifax has established a dedicated website, www.equifaxsecurity2017.com, to help consumers determine if their information has been potentially impacted and to sign up for credit file monitoring and identity theft protection. The offering, called TrustedID Premier, includes 3-Bureau credit monitoring of Equifax, Experian and TransUnion credit reports; copies of Equifax credit reports; the ability to lock and unlock Equifax credit reports; identity theft insurance; and Internet scanning for Social Security numbers – all complimentary to U.S. consumers for one year. The website also provides additional information on steps consumers can take to protect their personal information. Equifax recommends that consumers with additional questions visit www.equifaxsecurity2017.com or contact a dedicated call center at 866-447-7559, which the company set up to assist consumers. The call center is open every day (including weekends) from 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m. Eastern time.

 

[Mo Money]

Complimentary monitoring for one year. Then they presumably begin to charge you. What a crock.

 

[FlaGator]

Thanks for posting this.

Looks like my data was compromised - when I submitted the info to see if I was affected, I was taken immediately to a page that gave me an enrollment date for their free monitoring program

 

[cathy63]

Very poorly designed website. When I put in my info, I just get a message that says "Thank you! Your enrollment date is 9/12/2017..." but no indication that they think my info was actually compromised. The only way I know it was is because when I put in DH's info I get something that says "We don't believe your information was compromised."

 

[MichaelB]

Very poorly designed website. When I put in my info, I just get a message that says "Thank you! Your enrollment date is 9/12/2017..." but no indication that they think my info was actually compromised. The only way I know it was is because when I put in DH's info I get something that says "We don't believe your information was compromised."

Yup. Same here. That means your info was compromised. We need to enroll and activate the TrustedID service for more detail.

 

[CardsFan]

Yup. Same here. That means your info was compromised. We need to enroll and activate the TrustedID service for more detail.

What a freaking joke. I can't even enroll for 5 days? WTF?

And to top it off they say you must remember, you will not get any reminders.

 

[MichaelB]

I think free monitoring services for one year is not meaningfully helpful. After that year, the personal info - SS#, DL#, birthdate and such, is still out there, unchanged. The risk is forever.

 

[foxfirev5]

I don't see any advantage to the offer. At this point I'll just keep my credit frozen with all three providers, have minimal transactions and hope for the best

 

[Another Reader]

Well, damn. I was compromised. All my security precautions for nothing.

 

[Walt34]

Same here, for both me a DW. My congresscritters are going to hear about this!

(For all the fat lot of good I think that will do.)

 

[easysurfer]

The nightly news I was watching said about 50% of the US population got breached.

Haven't checked yet. Well, for me, my SSN already got hacked by the IRS hack a few years ago, so ... I've kinda been through this rodeo before .

 

[Ian S]

Dang that's gonna hurt my 100 shares of EFX tomorrow AM. Fortunately, I've lightened up over the last year or so. It's been a great performer.

 

[aja8888]

I haven't checked yet, but I have my credit frozen (locked) now for the last two years. If you have your credit locked does it make sense to enroll in their so-called service they are offering? I mean. how much do we have to do here?

 

[MissMolly]

YAY! Mine was not impacted. Maybe because I have a freeze on?

 

[Ian S]

I don't see any advantage to the offer. At this point I'll just keep my credit frozen with all three providers, have minimal transactions and hope for the best

Yeah, that's some protection thankfully. It's maddening that an outfit like Equifax which should have the most protective security against just such a thing gets breached. Maybe there's no such thing as security in this day and age.

Apparently, some equifax executives sold stock after the company learned of the hack. Wonder if they'll get nailed? Probably not.

 

[Fermion]

In other news, Equifaux stock soared today on announcement of a new $99 per year credit protection service...

 

[Walt34]

In other news, Equifaux stock soared today on announcement of a new $99 per year credit protection service...

Now that's just mean....

 

[easysurfer]

YAY! Mine was not impacted. Maybe because I have a freeze on?

Haven't checked yet. Don't feel like messing with this tonight. My credit is frozen so hopefully, won't be impacted.

 

[Sunset]

I think free monitoring services for one year is not meaningfully helpful. After that year, the personal info - SS#, DL#, birthdate and such, is still out there, unchanged. The risk is forever.

+1
They should provide free monitoring for life, and free correction of any mis-use for life as well.
Why was this information not encrypted ?
I think the executives should go to prison for 10 years as well, to be sure the other reporting agencies get their act together.

 

[Fermion]

Both my wife and my credit is frozen and we were affected according to that link (at least we were given the Sept 12 date).

Compounded with my problems today with the rental eviction fake report, this has me fuming mad.

I just paid Transunion $10 today to temp thaw my credit. This is what needs to change. Not some trial period of credit monitoring but the fee to freeze and unfreeze needs to go to $0. ZERO!

I have had to pay about $50 this year in temp thaws. We need to get a law on this mess.

 

[aja8888]

YAY! Mine was not impacted. Maybe because I have a freeze on?

No, mine is impacted and I have a freeze on for two years.

 

[KB]

I have a freeze and was affected too. Darn !!

I just had a fraudulent charge on my main Visa card over the weekend and had to cancel it. Waiting for the new one...darn thieves.

 

[Sunset]

Just wait until the theives phone up SS, change your address, and apply for SS if you already are not getting it.
What is the email for congress, time they did something important !!

 

[zedd]

Free monitoring service?! What, proffered by the same folks that allowed the data breach to happen?

Perhaps those in the know might offer a quick primer on how to freeze one's own credit.

 

[growing_older]

So in response to a breach, they put up a NEW website with a related name and ask people to put in their personal information. If I were trying to make a phishing exploit, this would be a good way to collect personal information.

It is generally accepted to be a BAD PRACTICE to ask people to put personal information into a website not related to the core, verifiable domain of the affected company. ANYONE can register any variation of equifaxsecure.com equifaxrecovery.com equifaxsafe.com or any other similar name. Actually asking people to use a website like this further undermines good online security and makes it easier for scammers and phishing exploits in the future. Equifax should be skewered.