Equifax breach exposes 143 million people to identity theft

originally posted by: Tardacus
why are these so called credit bureaus even allowed to compile dossiers on it, with all our personal information,without our consent?

are all our financial transactions public information? if not than why are they allowed to collect it and keep it?

It's not your information, it's information about you that your lenders report to them.

The Atlanta-based company said the intrusion — enabled by a website vulnerability — occurred from mid-May through July. The issue was discovered July 29, and the company spent recent weeks working with a cybersecurity consultant and authorities on an investigation, which is continuing.

source

Why would Equifax wait this long to report this breach to the public?

a reply to: abago71

Considering the information they collect why in the 9 levels of hades do they not have a cyber security expert on staff.

I hate corporations.

Just checked the web site, looks like I am one of the lucky 143 million, lucky me.

They are paying for 1 year Identity theft protection.

Equifax response web page

this will give you an idea of the particulars, and allow you to check and see if you hit the your boned lottery as well.

originally posted by: Irishhaf
a reply to: abago71

Considering the information they collect why in the 9 levels of hades do they not have a cyber security expert on staff.

I hate corporations.

Just checked the web site, looks like I am one of the lucky 143 million, lucky me.

They are paying for 1 year Identity theft protection.

Equifax response web page

this will give you an idea of the particulars, and allow you to check and see if you hit the your boned lottery as well.

Thanks for the link. I checked mine and it says I'm not likely one of those affected.

Info on the sad state of their systems and how this was handled.

arstechnica.com...

a reply to: Irishhaf
I got hit in the OPM hack. This one too.

a reply to: Irishhaf


Are we sure they just don't want us to sign up and then a year from now, when the fees kick in, we just either forget or ignore it?

ETA: I just ran mine and it said 'may have been impacted', that's three in this thread. 200,000 out of 143,000,000. The odds don't seem right.

originally posted by: Metallicus
Now cyber-criminals have access to your social security number, drivers license number

I've never supplied details of my UK National Insurance number or my driving license number. (ETA for credit purposes) Is this an American thing?
Strange how the US is more invasive than the UK when obtaining credit, seems Orwellian to me.

I got hit with the OPM hack as well, did not worry to much back then cause my credit sucked, now though I am closing in on a very good rating so I will sign up for it just in case.

hate doing that but dang it I want to get a new house when I move back to the states.

a reply to: abago71

My bet is they were waiting for bigger news to hide under. Like the hurricane season from hell. Perfect timing really, considering this is a big story and they basically bury the lead that this potentially affects nearly everyone with credit in the US. Just checked the site, they got mine. Poor bastards really with my score.

originally posted by: lightedhype
a reply to: DerBeobachter

Sounds like a fun life bro.

Life of the party!

You must be real important to attempt to be so hidden.

Did i miss something funny because of protecting my real data and my privacy?
Is self exposing to the world so funny?
I never needed it, my self-confidence is healthy, i don´t need the attention of the whole world.

Important?
If i would think that i am important, i would be a user of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and whatever social crap. I would terrorize the other social crap users with my "important life", unasked and nonstop. You would find tons of photos and videos, self-exposer posts of me in the web, everywhere. That´s what people do when they think they are important, or when they think this is needed to become important.

But i am important enough for myself, so i protect my data and privacy!

The difference between me and the "I have nothing to hide in the web" crowd:
I don´t have problems with identity theft, and i will not have them in the future!
Can´t see something wrong with being prepared for the future, even if it is digital prepping.

And as we can see, it seems to be not the dumbest idea to be a digital prepper too!

Not like there are other serious things going on right now,
but I just got to the forensic reports on this,
Their servers didn't even have firewalls up....................

Anyway 70 Billion class action suit was filled this morning.

Unbelievable.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus
a reply to: Irishhaf
Are we sure they just don't want us to sign up and then a year from now, when the fees kick in, we just either forget or ignore it?

ETA: I just ran mine and it said 'may have been impacted', that's three in this thread. 200,000 out of 143,000,000. The odds don't seem right.

The whole thing doesn't seem right. I ran my name also

So, lucked out this time. To be wiped out again...I'll just move to the beach and live homeless next time!

a reply to: DerBeobachter

Agreed.
I have massively protected my identity online except one census a decade and a half ago when I didn't tick the 'non-public record' box, so when I google my name there is a single entry showing me living at an old address.
My unique name is the only one on the internet, so while I do use fb etc, I never use my real name.

I'm actually shocked that public records are available on the net for US citizens, they are not for UK citizens if you don't want it.
I'm, also shocked that national insurance numbers and driver license numbers are needed for credit in the US!
...and they say WE are the oppressed ones in Europe LMAO! At least we CAN keep our government records private if we want to...US seems like 1984 to me.

a reply to: DerBeobachter

You know its funny, the first time my data was exposed was the federal govt, not any business, not a choice to risk my data, the fed failing to do its job and protect their peoples personal data.

Sometimes the simple fact of having a job puts your information at risk no matter what you choose to do.

Just so everyone understands the scale of the information Equifax, Trans Union and Experian have on you:

Name
Current and Previous Addresses
Current and Previous Employer
DOB
SSN/ITIN
Public Records (Liens & Judgments)
Bankruptcy Information
Collections
Mortgage Information
Credit Cards
Auto Loans
Payments & Delinquencies
Inquiries (Places you applied for credit and who has pulled your credit.)
Dispute Information (Any time you went to them and disputed errors.)

Needless to say, pretty much everything about your identifying details and financial life. While they only report in most cases 7-10 years of (derogatory) data. They house all of YOUR data from the dawn of time.

This data apparently is already being sold on the dark web: Dark Web portal claiming to sell Equifax data

This is probably one of the most significant consumer data breaches in history. OPM didn't have all of your financial transactions.

Also saw some of the execs sold their stock and options before the announcement. Link.

Dumb, dumb, dumb. Somebody may actually go to jail.

Meanwhile, I'd recommend that if you aren't in the process of using your credit, FREEZE your file with all three bureaus. It wont be 100% protection, because let's face it, the thieves have everything they need to impersonate you. (Think about that!)

Heads need to roll.

originally posted by: TNMockingbird

The whole thing doesn't seem right. I ran my name also

No, the odds don't seem correct at all.

So, lucked out this time. To be wiped out again...I'll just move to the beach and live homeless next time!

I say we do it regardless.

originally posted by: Irishhaf
a reply to: abago71

Considering the information they collect why in the 9 levels of hades do they not have a cyber security expert on staff.

I hate corporations.

Just checked the web site, looks like I am one of the lucky 143 million, lucky me.

They are paying for 1 year Identity theft protection.

Equifax response web page

this will give you an idea of the particulars, and allow you to check and see if you hit the your boned lottery as well.

Do not check to see if you are one if those lucky 143 million till you read the below.
www.foxbusiness.com...
www.cnbc.com...

originally posted by: roadgravel
Info on the sad state of their systems and how this was handled.

arstechnica.com...

You really have to wonder.....if they are in that business, why they didn't have better security on their systems?
Especially after previous hacks in banks and big corporations.

I checked my husband and me....supposedly we're not breached....but cannot sign up until next week for the free protection.

a reply to: ANNED

There's a statement up on the website refuting that now. Forced by the NY Attorney General.