Credit Bureaus-Life After the National Public Data Breach

[NewTricks]

[For individuals that live in the USA and have a number issued by the Social Security Administration.]

This may help someone who has been affected by the National Public Data breach which @David H. Lipman posted here.  @Clang posed the question: ID Theft Protection-is it worth getting? here. I chimed in with my own experience here. We've gone "round and round the mulberry bush" discussing ways to reduce exposure to further threats by using processes in place to make your Social Security number inaccessible with both the Social Security Administration and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). We discussed the actions to limit exposure by freezing credit reports at the top three bureaus: Experian, Equifax and Transunion.

This post is "what happened next" in case you have not gotten up close and personal with the bureaus yet. I might also comment on some credit monitoring sites along the way. (not today)

Experian has two sites, and these can be easily confused. One includes the words "portal" and "idworks". The other has a simplified address of usa.experian.com. Both are https// and each one has a separate set of credentials. I just received an email "alert" "Your FICO score has been updated".  Since many of us read preliminarily on small phone screens, I noticed that a 14 digit membership ID # appears in the smallest possible font above the message. Make a note of that number if you want to pursue this issue.

A successful log in to the portalexperianidworks site showed 7 alerts. None were FICO score changes. All referred to the SSN breach and the name, address, phone associated with it at the time.

Of those 7 alerts:

• Three referred to ONE address in 2008.
• One referred to an address in 2001
• One to an address in 1998

Obviously old news. I'd like to point out that the phone numbers were either incorrect, or associated with different addresses. That doesn't mean relax, but it may mean that similar inaccuracies are just as possible. If family members have the same last name, addresses and phone numbers can be unintentionally migrated where they don't belong across some sites like Spokeo, PeopleFinder, Whitepages, 4-1-1, etc.

I put two online freezes in place successfully with Experian and Transunion. Both sent confirmation email the same day.

In addition, Transunion sent me a paper confirmation, twice. They also sent a secure encrypted message, which duplicated their paper confirmations. (Thank you Transunion!)

I mailed in an Equifax freeze, they responded with a paper confirmation.

If you choose to call any of the bureaus, they have processes in place to guarantee a long hold time. (30 minutes or more)  During that time, you may or may not interact with a bot, which incessantly prods with  "say in a few words..."

 

BOTTOM LINE: Organize, document, note and date any and all efforts to secure your financial assets. Over time, considering the volume of the breach and consumer reaction, the bureaus may change or "update" their websites to handle the increased traffic, with actual humans, or AI.  

Thanks for reading.

[AdvancedSetup]

Along these lines, but in a different scope

 

Concerns Regarding Privacy in the Age of Technology

As we navigate an increasingly technology driven landscape, it is essential to address the growing concerns surrounding privacy and data security. The proliferation of digital platforms and the inherent collection of metadata pose significant risks to individual privacy, and without robust governmental intervention, these issues are likely to escalate.

Currently, the absence of stringent international regulations allows for the widespread sharing of metadata across various platforms and databases. While a draconian approach, such as classifying unauthorized metadata sharing as an international felony, may seem extreme, it underscores the urgent need for comprehensive privacy protections. However, it is unlikely that such measures will be enacted in the near future.

One of the most pressing challenges is the advancement of artificial intelligence technologies. As AI continues to evolve, its ability to de-obfuscate even the most anonymized data poses a serious threat to individual privacy. This capability not only undermines efforts to protect personal information but also makes it increasingly difficult to maintain any semblance of anonymity in a digital world.

Looking ahead, we may encounter several potential issues:

• Erosion of Trust: As individuals become more aware of the vulnerabilities associated with their data, we may see a decline in trust towards digital platforms and services, ultimately affecting their usage and growth.
• Regulatory Backlash: In response to privacy concerns, we could witness a wave of regulatory actions that may impose significant compliance burdens on organizations, potentially stifling innovation.
• Increased Cyber Threats: As data becomes more accessible, the potential for misuse—such as identity theft and cyberattacks—may rise, leading to further privacy breaches.
• Ethical Implications: The ethical ramifications of AI-driven data analysis could lead to societal divisions and discrimination if not managed responsibly.
• Public Outcry and Activism: Heightened awareness and activism surrounding privacy rights may lead to increased pressure on governments and organizations to adopt stricter data protection measures.

While AI presents remarkable opportunities for progress, its implications for privacy cannot be overlooked. It is crucial for stakeholders, governments, organizations, and individuals to engage in a dialogue about the future of data privacy and work collaboratively towards establishing effective safeguards.

 

[NewTricks]

Excellent @AdvancedSetup. Exactly the points, particularly AI. Thank you.