For tips to protect your credit and identity, turn to

• Place a credit freeze on your file with all three major U.S. creditreporting companies — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — and with the business-focused bureau Innovis. This will help prevent criminals from taking out credit cards, mortgages, lines of credit or other debt in your name. • Check all your online accounts for improper or unusual activity. This includes regularly monitoring your bank account and any other financial accounts, as well as email and social media accounts. • If you receive a notification of security issues via text, email or any other media, do not click on it, but instead access your account directly to check for notification from the company, and if none is present, contact the company. Hackers may use the Equifax breach to launch “spearphishing” attacks that can expose you to identity theft and other cybercrime when you click on a link.