Equifax’s massive data breach

insurance. To access the site, you’ll have to provide Equifax with your last name and the final six digits of your Social Security number; the fact that “you must volunteer more of what would otherwise be private information may not inspire much confidence.” If you decide you’d rather not deal with Equifax, “you can still monitor your own credit.” You’re entitled to a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies every year, meaning “you can effectively check your credit free every four months or so.” “Equifax will not be contacting everyone who was affected, but will send direct-mail notices to those whose credit card numbers or dispute records were accessed,” said Katie Lobosco in CNN.com. If you were affected, you can protect yourself by putting a freeze on your credit with each of the three credit-reporting agencies— Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—usually for a fee of less than $10. This will prevent fraudsters from borrowing under your name. Breaches like these are upsetting, but “the only thing we can do is try to protect our data as best we can, and respond quickly if something does happen,” said Lauren Lyons Cole in BusinessInsider.com. Let this be a reminder to keep close tabs on your financial accounts and credit report, just as you do on your email or Instagram account. “No one is going to be more interested in your financial situation than you are. Not even a hacker.”