When it happens, it can feel overwhelming—you get an email or letter from a business saying your data has been breached. Unfortunately, data breaches have become all too common.

Banks, social media platforms, e-commerce stores, and even governments have fallen victim. This often leaves sensitive information, like your address, Social Security number, or credit card details, exposed to criminals.

While you can’t control a company getting hacked, you can take critical steps afterward to protect yourself. Here are the most important actions to take to minimize financial and personal damage.

Change Your Passwords
Start by changing your passwords, beginning with the service that notified you of the breach. Then, update passwords for any accounts where you’ve reused the same credentials.

Using unique passwords for every site is a crucial best practice. If you’re in the habit of reusing passwords, a single breach can compromise multiple accounts. To manage this, use a password manager to generate and store strong, unique passwords. You’ll only need to remember one master password.

Enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA)
MFA can secure your accounts even if a hacker has your password. Turn it on for the breached service and enable it for other accounts where available.

MFA options include:

• Text message codes

• Authentication apps

• Security keys

Check Your Bank Accounts
If the breach involved payment card details, monitor your bank accounts closely for several weeks. Look for any unauthorized transactions and report them immediately.

Notify your bank about the data breach and request a new card if necessary. Proactively informing your bank can help ensure you aren’t held liable for fraudulent charges and allow them to guide you through any additional steps.

Freeze Your Credit
Breached personal details can be sold online, enabling identity theft. To prevent this, contact the three major credit bureaus to freeze your credit. This step blocks unauthorized attempts to open new accounts in your name.

The three bureaus are:

• Equifax

• Experian

• TransUnion

Freezing your credit is easy and can typically be done online.

Carefully Review the Breach Notification
Understand the full impact of the breach by carefully reading the notification you received. Check for details on:

1. The type of data exposed (passwords, financial details, etc.)

2. What the company is offering (e.g., credit monitoring services)

3. Steps you should take to secure your account

Continue monitoring the company’s website for updates. Often, the full extent of a breach isn’t immediately clear, and new information may emerge over time.

Get Good Cybersecurity Protections
Strengthen your personal device and network security to guard against future threats. Key tools include:

• Antivirus/anti-malware software

• DNS filtering to block malicious websites

• Email spam filters to reduce phishing risks

Using a VPN is another effective measure. It encrypts your internet traffic, making it harder for hackers to intercept sensitive data. VPNs are especially useful when using public Wi-Fi and are available for both computers and mobile devices.

Be on the Lookout for Phishing Scams
A breach often leads to an increase in phishing attempts, as exposed email addresses become targets. Phishing scams can be sophisticated, using AI to mimic legitimate communications.

To avoid falling victim:

• Hover over links to verify their destination.

• Visit websites directly instead of clicking on links in emails or texts.

• Be cautious of unknown senders.

• Stay alert for phishing attempts on social media and messaging platforms.

When in doubt, verify through an official source.

Make Sure to Update Software & Systems
Hackers frequently exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software. Keeping all your devices and apps updated is essential to maintaining security.

Update these regularly:

• Operating systems

• Applications and software

• Router and printer firmware

• Smart device firmware

With so many devices requiring updates, enabling automatic updates is an easy way to stay protected.

Managed Security Services You Can Count On
Protecting your data doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Managed security services can provide peace of mind, whether at home or work.

If you’re looking to enhance your device security, we’re here to help. Contact us today to discuss how we can protect your digital life.

Article adapted with permission from The Technology Press.