Know the Equifax breach basics

After Equifax announced it was the victim of a massive data breach that exposed personal information belonging to 143 million U.S. consumers, people have been asking all kinds of questions regarding what it means for them and how they can protect themselves.

To help you better understand the breach, potential consequences and what you can do to protect yourself, we’ve provided answers to some of your most frequently asked questions.

Q: What information was leaked in the data hack?

A: A lot. According to Equifax, the information exposed in the breach is more than enough to cause people some serious trouble — with criminals gaining unauthorized access to consumers’ names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and some driver’s license numbers. Plus, hackers were able to access credit card numbers for more than 200,000 U.S. consumers — along with “dispute documents” that contain identifying information for another 182,000.

Q: How bad is the damage?

A: This data breach is the worst we’ve seen in modern history. The information that was leaked is exactly what criminals need to wreak havoc on a person’s entire life — both financial and personal.

Q: How can I find out if my information was exposed?

A: Equifax has set up a website to help consumers find out if their information has been exposed. The company is also sending notices to consumers whose credit card numbers and/or dispute documents were exposed. For details, visit www.equifaxsecurity2017.com/potential-impact. Equifax is also offering the option to sign up for free credit file monitoring — don’t do it! It’s a waste.