Consumers Union – Computer Security Articles

Think You’ve Got Your Credit Freezes Covered? Think Again.

May 9, 2018 admin A Little Sunshine, AT&T, California Utility Exchange, Carrie Kerskie, Centralized Credit Check Systems, Consumers Union, credit freeze, Equifax, Equifax Credit Information Services Inc, Equifax Information Services LLC, Experian, Google Chrome 66, Hodges University, Identity Fraud Institute, Innovis, National Consumer Telecommunications and Utilities Exchange, NCTUE, nctue.com, New York Data Exchange, security freeze, Symantec, Trans Union, Verizon

Credit to Author: BrianKrebs| Date: Wed, 09 May 2018 13:36:04 +0000

I spent a few days last week speaking at and attending a conference on responding to identity theft. The forum was held in Florida, one of the major epicenters for identity fraud complaints in United States. One gripe I heard from several presenters was that identity thieves increasingly are finding ways to open new mobile phone accounts in the names of people who have already frozen their credit files with the big-three credit bureaus. Here’s a look at what may be going on, and how you can protect yourself.

Independent Krebs

Think You’ve Got Your Credit Freezes Covered? Think Again.

Credit to Author: BrianKrebs| Date: Wed, 09 May 2018 13:36:04 +0000

I spent a few days last week speaking at and attending a conference on responding to identity theft. The forum was held in Florida, one of the major epicenters for identity fraud complaints in United States. One gripe I heard from several presenters was that identity thieves increasingly are finding ways to open new lines of credit for things like mobile phones on people who have already frozen their credit files with the big-three credit bureaus. Here’s a look at what may be going on, and how you can protect yourself.

Independent Krebs

Survey: Americans Spent $1.4B on Credit Freeze Fees in Wake of Equifax Breach

March 22, 2018 admin annualcreditreport.com, CNBC, Consumers Union, credit freeze, Equifax breach, Fundera, security freeze, The Coming Storm, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, Wakefield Research

Credit to Author: BrianKrebs| Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2018 14:08:46 +0000

Almost 20 percent of Americans froze their credit file with one or more of the big three credit bureaus in the wake of last year’s data breach at Equifax, costing consumers an estimated $1.4 billion, according to a new study. The findings come as lawmakers in Congress are debating legislation that would make credit freezes free in every state. The figures, commissioned by small business loan provider Fundera and conducted by Wakefield Research, surveyed some 1,000 adults in the U.S. Respondents were asked to self-report how much they spent on the freezes; 32 percent said the freezes cost them $10 or less, but 38 percent said the total cost was $30 or more. The average cost to consumers who froze their credit after the Equifax breach was $23. A credit freeze blocks potential creditors from being able to view or “pull” your credit file, making it far more difficult for identity thieves to apply for new lines of credit in your name.

Independent Krebs

Fear Not: You, Too, Are a Cybercrime Victim!

October 4, 2017 admin Christina Tetreault, Consumer Reports, Consumers Union, credit freeze, credit lock, Equifax, House Energy & Commerce Committee, hurricane irma, irs, Other, Politico, Richard Smith, TALX, Wells Fargo, wired.com, Yahoo

Credit to Author: BrianKrebs| Date: Wed, 04 Oct 2017 04:34:50 +0000

Maybe you’ve been feeling left out because you weren’t among the lucky few hundred million or billion who had their personal information stolen in either the Equifax or Yahoo! breaches. Well buck up, camper: Both companies took steps to make you feel better today. Yahoo! announced that, our bad!: It wasn’t just one billion users who had their account information filched in its record-breaking 2013 data breach. It was more like three billion (read: all) users. Meanwhile, big three credit bureau Equifax added 2.5 million more victims to its roster of 143 million Americans who had their Social Security numbers and other personal data filched in a breach earlier this year. At the same time, Equifax’s erstwhile CEO informed Congress that the breach was the result of even more bone-headed security than was first disclosed. To those still feeling left out by either company after this spate of news, I have only one thing to say (although I feel a bit like a broken record in repeating this): Assume you’re compromised, and take steps accordingly.