Equifax reached a settlement agreement in the class-action suit from the 2017 data breach. To find out if your information was exposed in this breach and if you are eligible for compensation, go to https://eligibility.equifaxbreachsettlement.com/en/eligibility and enter your last name and the last six digits of your Social Security number. If you are eligible, you can then file online. It takes approximately two minutes to submit your claim. You can choose to receive free credit monitoring or a cash payment (up to $125, but more if you incurred expenses in dealing with problems associated with the breach, up to $20k). Personally, I use the free service from Credit Karma and opted for the cash payout. More details on the process are in this article. With an estimated cost of $575 to $700 million, I think Equifax is getting off way too easily, especially considering the $5 billion dollar fine levied against Facebook.
Hello! This is not a sales call
Last week, the FCC approved new rules to ban spoofed (fake) text messages and international robocalls. Also last week, the House of Representatives passed a bill requiring phone carriers to authenticate callers and offer opt-out call blocking for free. These are both long overdue steps in dealing with the scourge of robocalls that have plagued us for more than a decade. Hopefully, the Senate will pass this bill quickly and we will start seeing improvements by the end of 2019. For now, make sure your phone numbers are listed in the FCC “Do Not Call” registry (https://www.donotcall.gov/).
And the hits (hacks) keep on comin’
Capital One’s 106,000,000+ account breach is only the latest to make the news. The one thing that is slightly different is that the crime was committed by an insider, which highlights additional risks to our data. Most organizations have and will continue to have this type of “Snowden” exposure. While the Capital One breach is currently being blamed on a misconfigured server, it does highlight a vulnerability that is one of the hardest to contain: Who watches the watchers and gatekeepers, i.e., those that are entrusted to guard our information?
If you are a Capital One credit card holder or even applied for a card, your information may have been exposed. For more information, see this article.
And finally – if you have any “Internet of Things” devices (e.g. Internet-connected printers, cameras, appliances, etc.), the Russian Bear may be snooping on you. That yurt in Montana is looking better and better every year.
As a Henssler client, if you have a cybersecurity-related question or concern, we are here to help! Contact us at cybersecurity@hensslerfinancial.com, or through your Associate.
Disclosures: The investments referenced within this article may currently be traded by Henssler Financial. All material presented is compiled from sources believed to be reliable and current, but accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The contents are intended for general information purposes only. Information provided should not be the sole basis in making any decisions and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified professional, such as a tax consultant, insurance adviser or attorney. Although this material is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with respect to the subject matter, it may not apply in all situations. Readers are urged to consult with their adviser concerning specific situations and questions. This is not to be construed as an offer to buy or sell any financial instruments. It is not our intention to state, indicate or imply in any manner that current or past results are indicative of future profitability or expectations. As with all investments, there are associated inherent risks. Please obtain and review all financial material carefully before investing. Henssler is not licensed to offer or sell insurance products, and this overview is not to be construed as an offer to purchase any insurance products.
