Data breach woes aren’t just plaguing the United States. The world over, data breach incidents are happening at government, technology, education, healthcare, retail and financial service organizations. These are the industries in which the biggest and most breaches are occurring, according to KPMG’s Data Loss Barometer.
Truth be told, data breaches happen at any type of business, from local dental clinics to big online retailers. The discomforting part is, the privacy of our data depends on the companies with which we share it. And sometimes those companies share data with third-party vendors, such as payment processors or cloud service providers that we don’t even know about. So you can see why data breaches have become so prevalent–both people and companies have data in so many places.
To help protect yourself against data breaches – remember we’re all at risk – use these tips:
- Only shop with reputable companies, especially online, where you can check that a website’s order page begins with “https:” before entering any personal data.
- If an organization other than a financial institution, utility company or employer asks for your Social Security number, ask whether you can provide only the last four digits or an alternate form of identification.
- If a company with which you have an online account has a breach, change your password immediately. If you use that same password for other accounts, update those accounts too. Also delete any stored credit card information from your online accounts.
- If you receive a notification letter from a breached company, follow any instructions for securing your identity and stay on alert for the signs of identity theft.
Data breach prevention is up to businesses. But if you only patronize those that you know value your privacy and security, you can rest a little easier.
“Living in a Data Breach World” was provided by ProtectMyID.com.
To further your sense of security, you can always come to us with your questions. Contact us at 1-877-672-4543. Or you can send us a message here.
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