What If My Information Is Part of a Data Breach?

What If My Information Is Part of a Data Breach?

Author: Jeff Weeks, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer

Living in today’s digital age, we need to realize that there is risk associated with our online activities. We are all risk professionals in our personal and professional lives, making risk versus reward decisions every day. But even if we take all the precautions, a data breach can impact us.

Several data breaches have been in the news lately; with information leaks affecting sectors ranging from hospitals to the service industry. Recently, National Public Data (NPD), a company that aggregates personal data for background checks, was breached, impacting approximately 272 million Americans’ social security numbers. Also recently, notices went out about a data breach at a well-known event ticketing company. If you received a notice for one of these or a similar event, there are steps you can take to mitigate the impact.

Step 1: Document everything. As soon as you suspect your information was part of a data breach, start documenting what happened, what accounts and information were impacted, and the steps you are taking to mitigate loss.

Step 2: Follow the instructions provided in the notice letter. The data breach notice will likely provide steps you can take to prevent further losses. Take advantage of any identity theft or credit monitoring offered.

Step 3: Change your passwords on any affected accounts. Regardless of whether or not you are instructed to change your password, you should change it. If you use the same password on other accounts, change those too. Read more about password security here.

Step 4: Contact your bank. Inform your bank and credit card companies about a data breach right away. They can watch for suspicious activity and work with you to replace cards if necessary. Read more about credit card safety tips here.

Step 5: Monitor your accounts. Keep a close eye on your financial and personal accounts for any unusual activity. If you notice anything suspicious, report it immediately.

Step 6: Set up alerts on your accounts. You can set up alerts for your FNBO accounts by logging onto fnbo.com. Select the account you want alerts for and click on “Manage Alerts.” You will be prompted to enter the email address and phone number you want alerts sent to. Then select the type of alerts you want to receive. Be sure to click “Save Alerts” when you are finished.

Step 7: Fraud alerts and credit freezes. Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit reports after a data breach. This warns creditors that you may be a victim of identity theft and they should verify anyone seeking credit in your name. A credit freeze is a more severe step that locks down your credit entirely, preventing anyone from opening new accounts in your name. For more information, check out this article in our Security Center.

Step 8: Beware of phishing attempts. Be extra cautious of emails, calls, or texts asking for personal information. Attackers often use stolen data for phishing scams. Learn more about phishing scams in this article.

Step 9: Stay Informed. Keep up to date with any information from the breached organization about what they are doing to resolve the issue and protect your data.

Data breaches are an unfortunate reality in today's digital world. However, by following the steps outlined in this article, you can take control of the situation and minimize the impact of a data breach on your personal and financial information. Remember to act quickly, remain vigilant, and stay informed to protect yourself and your data.

About the Author
Jeff has been with First National Bank of Omaha for more than 25 years and is currently the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer. The executive leadership and oversight provided by Jeff in the development, management, and execution of information security for FNBO enables the company’s ability to posture and protect private, personal information, and assets of the company’s clients, employees, and business partners.