How to protect your data before hackers strike

DETROIT – It seems like there is always news of another data breach, like the recent one at a major data broker, that could potentially affect tens of millions of us. Whether you’ve fallen victim or want to proactively protect your personal information, Consumer Reports explains what you can do now before the hackers strike.

Like many of us, Consumer Reports technical editor Nicholas De Leon knows what it feels like to be the victim of a data breach. His advice is: First, don’t panic. His social security number was stolen in the big Equifax hack and he finally cleared everything up.

One important step Nicholas took was to freeze his credit score with the three major credit bureaus; A step that CR generally recommends as it can help prevent criminals from opening new accounts in your name.

The thing is, whenever you need credit – for example, if you want to rent an apartment or buy a new phone – you have to release your credit to do so. You can do all of this by simply calling the credit agency and asking them to freeze and unfreeze your credit as needed.

A less restrictive option is to contact the credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit score. This alerts lenders to take additional steps to verify an individual’s identity as their personal information may have been compromised.

It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on your free weekly credit reports, credit score, and credit card statements. If you notice unauthorized charges on your credit card statement, you should contact the issuer immediately.

If you’ve been the victim of a data breach, be sure to change your password, not just for your hacked account, but everywhere you used it.

And a pro tip: Instead of reusing passwords in the future, consider using a password manager. They generate and store unique, complex passwords for each of your accounts. Many also notify users if their password has been leaked in a data breach, including CR-recommended password managers from 1Password, Dashlane, and Keeper.

CR also recommends deleting any online accounts you no longer use, as too many digital accounts increase the risk of your data being misused or stolen.

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