Liz Weston: Equifax hack isn’t over _ more risks ahead
Long after the
But that's just the start of the gauntlet people may have to run to protect their financial lives.
The
This is the sensitive, private information that's used to establish your identity, which is why freezing your credit reports — as important as that is — won't be enough.
Credit freezes won't prevent criminals from taking over credit, bank, retirement and investment accounts, says security expert
Here are the cybersecurity steps you should take now:
MAKE SURE ALL OF YOUR FREEZES ARE IN PLACE
You need to set up credit freezes separately at each of the three major credit bureaus (
SET UP TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION IF YOU CAN
Two-factor security requires something you know, typically a password, along with something you have, such as a code texted to your phone or generated by an authentication app. (Security experts including Litan recommend using an app since criminals have started taking over cell phone accounts to circumvent two-factor verification by text.) Yes, two-factor authentication is a hassle, and no, it's not foolproof, but it creates another barrier between your accounts and the criminally inclined. Typically, once you set it up, you'll have to use it only if you try to sign in with an unrecognized device or after a set amount of time.
Two-factor security is a must for your password manager, your email and any cloud-based storage account including
The four big cell phone carriers don't offer it, either, which is pretty horrifying. Phone numbers are often used as a security backup, so a criminal controlling yours could reset passwords on many of your accounts.
FILE YOUR TAXES EARLY
It's pretty lame that the only thing you can do to thwart thieves from ginning up a phony tax return is to file your legitimate one as soon as possible after the
CREATE A 'MY SOCIAL SECURITY' ACCOUNT
Again, you're trying to get there before the evildoers. Setting up online access to your
You can't make your identity hack-proof, unfortunately, any more than you can keep a determined burglar from breaking into your home. Your goal is to make the bad guys work hard enough that they'll decide to move on to an easier target.
This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website
RELATED LINKS:
Double security: Which banks and sites support two-factor authentication? — https://twofactorauth.org
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