Have you ever had an email or letter from a business saying someone breached your data? Data breaches happen at banks, social media sites and e-commerce sites. Not only that, but governments are also victims. This leaves things like your address, SSN and credit card details exposed to thieves.
A business getting hacked is something you have little control over, but you can take important steps afterwards. We’ve outlined the most important things to do below.
Change Your Passwords
The very first thing you should do is change your passwords. Change the password for the service that sent you the breach notification first. Then, change it for any logins using the same password.
This is one of the reasons it is a best practice to use unique logins for every site. Many people get in the habit of using the same password in several places. This leaves more than the single breaches login at risk. Use a password manager to help you create strong passwords.
Enable Multi-factor Authentication (MFA)
Multi-factor authentication can keep accounts secure even is a hacker stole the password. Enable it for the breached service. Ensure you have MFA activated where possible – you may see it being called two-factor authentication or two-step authentication.
Check Your Bank Accounts
If payment card details were breached, check bank accounts. You’ll want to watch these for several weeks for fraudulent charges. Report the breach to your bank to have them issue you a new card if needed and make sure to notify them about the breach.
Get Good Cybersecurity Protections
Make sure you protect your device and network. There are some simple tools you can use to beef up personal device security. These include:
- A good antivirus/anti-malware
- Email Spam filtering for phishing
- DNS Filtering (a spam filter but for websites)
Another good protection you can use is a VPN. This helps mask your traffic, this is especially useful if you are using a public Wi-Fi. VPNs are easy to use on both mobile and computers too.
Be on the Lookout for Phishing Scams
Emails are often exposed in data breaches. This means you may receive an uptick in phishing emails. Phishing is very convincing now that criminals utilise AI. It makes phishing emails even harder to spot. Stay ultra-aware of any unexpected emails and follow these best practices:
- Hover over links to check the URL
- Go to websites directly – don’t click on links from emails or texts
- Beware of unknown senders
- Watch for phishing on social media as well as emails and texts
Keep your devices safe and secure and be safe out there! If you are looking for an IT partner that can help you with these things, get in touch! We would love to help!