Essential Tips to Safeguard Your Information After a Data Breach

Cyber-attacks that have targeted sectors including airlines, retail and healthcare have seen millions of people’s data leaked, sold on the dark web and used to facilitate cybercriminal activity.

In the UK, 6.5 million Co-op members had their data exposed as a result of a recent cyber-attack. Australian airline Quantas confirmed that 5.7 million of its customers had personal data compromised by a data breach. In 2024, US telecommunications giant AT&T confirmed that the details of 73 million current and former customers were advertised on a dark web marketplace.

The data affected in these types of breaches can range from names, email addresses and passwords to more sensitive information like banking details, medical data, social security numbers, national identifications and other personally identifiable information (PII).  

This leaves the public asking what to do if your data has been exposed or stolen as a result of a data breach? In this article we explore practical steps you can take to protect your data online and help you understand why this data is so valuable to criminals. 

Many cybercriminals steal information for the purpose of selling it to others in dark web forums. This data can then be used by the buyers to facilitate other hacks through exploited usernames and passwords, as well as commit identity theft and other types of fraud. 

Stolen data, such as names and email addresses, can be used to create convincing social engineering scams and phishing attacks that can manipulate victims into divulging more sensitive information. The information, or threat of revealing it, can also be used to threaten victims to extort money from them. 

Cybercriminals can use stolen personal information to commit various fraudulent activities. With personal information like names, addresses, financial details, date of birth and Social Security numbers, criminals can impersonate people to apply for loans and credit cards. 

With a list of usernames and passwords, combined with other PII, hackers can access existing accounts, such as social media, e-commerce sites or online banks. This can also lead to those companies being exposed to unauthorized access.

If you suspect a company you use holds some of your data, first check if there has been a data breach by checking their official website or social media for updates.

Online tools such as haveibeenpwned.com can also help you identify if your credentials have been caught up in a data breach. 

Reset the password on the compromised account. If you use the same password elsewhere, change it on all those accounts as soon as possible. Ideally you should use a unique password for each account, password managers can help.

Where possible implement multi-factor authentication across accounts that offer it, especially email, banking and other sensitive accounts. 

Many firms will offer free credit monitoring services to customers who may have been affected by a data breach. Make use of this if it is offered as well as ensuring you are monitoring your bank accounts regularly, taking care to identify any unusual activity and reporting it to your bank immediately. 

Be alert for scams that target those who have been had their data compromised. Scam messages to look out for include those prompting you to change passwords, emails offering compensation or communications about delayed deliveries. 

By taking proactive measures and staying vigilant, you can significantly reduce the potential impact of a data breach on your personal and financial information.

Regularly monitoring your accounts, updating your passwords, and enabling multi-factor authentication not only bolsters your online security but also helps you stay one step ahead of cyber attackers.

Remember, if you suspect your data has been exposed, act immediately to safeguard your digital identity. Stay informed, use trusted tools to check for breaches and be cautious of scams exploiting these situations for a safer online experience.

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