{"id":1330,"date":"2017-09-11T08:59:51","date_gmt":"2017-09-11T16:59:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.checkworks.com\/blog\/?p=1330"},"modified":"2019-06-18T10:10:39","modified_gmt":"2019-06-18T18:10:39","slug":"urgent-how-to-protect-yourself-from-the-equifax-hack-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.checkworks.com\/index.php\/urgent-how-to-protect-yourself-from-the-equifax-hack-now\/","title":{"rendered":"URGENT: How to Protect Yourself From the Equifax Hack Now"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By the CheckWorks Team<\/p>\n

At CheckWorks, we take every measure to inform and protect our customers and website visitors in the areas of business and personal finances. A breach at Equifax, one of three U.S. credit-reporting agencies, has compromised much of its customers\u2019 data. Some people, including young adults who are new to the world of credit, may not know that Equifax maintains credit profiles on all Americans in the credit system. Below, you\u2019ll find out what\u2019s at risk and the steps you can take to protect yourself and your credit. Tell everyone you know about this breach, and send them to this article for details and links to vital information.<\/p>\n

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Assume Your Information Has Been Hacked<\/strong><\/span>
\nHackers accessed personal and credit information including names, addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, driver\u2019s license numbers, bank and credit card information. The breach was one of the largest ever and affected up to 143 million Americans or 44 percent of the U.S. population. The stolen information was quickly posted and sold online on the dark web, a hidden part of the web frequented by criminal elements, and immediately used to make fraudulent purchases in your name. Assume your information has been compromised<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Equifax notified authorities of the breach Sept. 7, more than a month after they learned about it July 29. Between the time the hack was conducted sometime between mid-May and July and its disclosure, hackers were free to use the information they had gained from the Equifax computers. According to Bloomberg<\/a>, three top Equifax executives sold shares worth around $1.8 million Aug. 1 and 2 more than a month ahead of the disclosure.<\/p>\n

Steps to Take to Protect Yourself<\/strong><\/span>
\nPerform the following steps as soon as possible:<\/p>\n