Equifax hack the latest to strike data

Given the info company held, credit bureaus should be more like Fort Knox

Once again, hackers have hit another agency — this time a credit reporting agency that holds a vast amount of personal data.

Equifax reported this week that around 143 million people could have been impacted by the data breach. This time around, cyber criminals stole personal information including names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and some driver’s license numbers, the Associated Press reports. In some instances, credit card numbers and personal identifying information were also stolen, although the number of people impacted in those cases was significantly smaller.

Equifax is one of three major U.S. credit bureaus, which collect information about people to determine whether or not lenders should approve the individuals for financing or credit cards. Such a company would have a wide variety of information about individuals — which makes this hack job a massive heist.

It’s an unsettling situation. Credit bureaus such as Equifax should be the gold standard of security, the Fort Knox of keeping data and personal information

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safe.

And yet, here we are again, facing news of yet another massive data breach.

“This is clearly a disappointing event for our company, and one that strikes at the heart of who we are and what we do,” Equifax CEO Richard Smith said in a statement. “I apologize to consumers and our business customers for the concern and frustration this causes.”

But imagine how disappointing it is to their customers, who have entrusted Equifax with their most personal data.

At this point, one has to wonder if it’s even worth getting upset about anymore, or if these data hacks are now just an accepted part of doing business in today’s world. They’ve become so common. Yes, they are frustrating. But the end of the world? Not really. Just super annoying.

But that doesn’t mean that consumers and businesses should be any less vigilant. Instead, we have to continuously stay on top of the ball to protect our information, and businesses — especially ones like Equifax — need to find better ways to secure their servers.

Equifax has set up a website — www.equifaxsecurity2017.com — where people can check to see if their information was impacted. Or, people can call 866-4477559 to learn more.

And, the company is offering free credit monitoring to all U.S. customers for a year, AP reports.

Be sure to check your information, readers. And if there is any remote chance that your data could be impacted, sign up for the credit monitoring service ASAP.

It was heartwarming to see the rescue videos of folks helping other folks to safety in Texas. Black, white, color-blind. When people are in need, it brings out the best of America.

Tragedies should not define us as a culture. Our common bond is grounded in the fact that we innately share so many of the same desires, wants and needs. Our common basic concerns reside around the safety of our family, a bright and promising future for our children and a fervent desire to improve the human condition.

These are the causes that any thinking person should get behind. These are values and goals that we can all relate to. This is who we are.

Last week I failed to see the ‘ditch’ at the end of a parking lot in town and landed nose-down in it, with not enough traction to back out. Since I was meeting a friend for lunch in the next-door eatery, I decided to go ahead and eat and deal with the problem afterwards (an AAA job).

A few minutes later, a young man came to our table and said he and his friend (servicemen, I believe) could pull me out after their take-out lunch was ready. I couldn’t believe their kindness; and it was so hot!

It proved to be a more difficult job than we’d anticipated and, while we were trying to manipulate the rope, another gentleman offered his assistance (he works for a nonprofit assisting homeless vets).

In no time it seemed, they had the

Thank you, Elgin Everly, for your opinions in the Tuesday (9/1) edition of the Yuma Sun. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your viewpoints. I, also, have been disturbed with our “supreme justices” overturning state laws which, we the people, have voted on.

Another thank you on the same page goes to Mike St.Cyr regarding the behavior of NFL players protesting our national anthem. I agree whole heartedly that the football field is not the place for them to show off themselves.

However, you’re so correct in that they like the attention of the TV media. What is this teaching our young citizens, particularly those young athletes? It’s also a sad feeling that many schools don’t begin their day with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Thanks to both of you, it made my day, along with our Diamondbacks winning over the Dodgers.