Have You Secured Your Private Information?
As you many know, 23andme recently filed for bankruptcy. The Company’s bankruptcy announcement comes less than two years after 23andMe suffered a massive data breach affecting 6.9 million customer accounts. Many are suggesting users delete their data from 23andme. Here are suggested steps to take:
- Sign in to your 23andMe account
- Go to “Account Settings” and click “23andMe Data”
- Click “View”
- Click “Delete Data”
- Click “Permanently Delete Data”
- Confirm the request through email
A common result for individuals affected Data Breaches is identity theft. Identity theft affects millions of people each year and can cause serious harm. McShane & Brady is a leading Kansas City law firm that has represented millions of people who have had their personal information disclosed via a data breach. Protect yourself by securing your personal information, understanding the threat of identity theft, and exercising caution.
Few days go by without hearing about a major data breach potentially exposing millions of customers’ personal data to criminals. Here are a few tips to ensure your personal information doesn’t end up in the wrong hands.
Use strong passwords
When creating a password, don’t make it easy for a cybercriminal to figure out your passwords by using passwords that are commonly known or guessed. Choose combinations of lower and upper-case letters, numbers, and symbols and change them periodically. Did you know that some of the most commonly used passwords are 123456, password, 123456789, and qwerty1.
Use free wi-fi with caution
Most free public Wi-Fi networks have very few security measures in place, which means others using the same network could easily access your activity. You should wait until you’re at home or on a secure, password-protected network before using your credit card information.
Check to see if the site is secure
Before entering personal information into a website, take a look at the top of your browser. If there is a lock symbol and the URL begins with “https,” that means the site is secure.
Consider additional protection
Install anti-virus software, anti-spyware software, and a firewall. For additional protection, you may want to consider cyber insurance, which can keep you and your family safe if you fall victim to a cyberattack.
Don’t Overshare Online
Be careful of sharing too much personal information online, like your birthday, home address, or other life details which could make it easy for scammers or cyber-criminals to take advantage of you.
Sign up for eAlerts
You can also setup eAlerts that notify you when certain transactions are made on your account. If suspicious activity occurs, be sure to report it immediately to your financial institution. The quicker fraudulent activity is reported, the quicker action can be taken to prevent further fraud.
If you have been notified of a data breach of your personal information, please contact McShane & Brady immediately at 816-888-8010.