Possibly the biggest news within this past week, the scariest too, is the probability that 143 million U.S. consumers have had their social security numbers, birth dates, addresses and driver’s license numbers compromised. Is there such a thing as a “good” hacker?
This is one of the largest and most threatening data breaches of recent years.  There are several ways to protect your finances after this Equifax data breach:

• Check your credit report with Equifax, Experian & TransUnion.  These reports are free, annually, via creditreport.com.
• A credit freeze:  This procedure will prevent the issue of new lines of credit.  It can be an extreme measure because a consumer will not be able to open new credit cards, apply for a mortgage or a car loan, plus “unfreezing” the credit can & could be VERY time consuming.
• Check bank statements and credit card statements.  Now, this should be standard procedure for all of us…are we too busy to deal with what may happen if we don’t take the time to review these monthly items?  Let’s watch the dollars that we have worked so hard to preserve.

Last thought on this sobering subject?  Check “the” website!  Equifax has established a “go to” site to help all of us through this potential hazard.  “www.equifaxsecurity2017.com OR visit the identity theft resource center at www.idtheftcenter.org / 1-888-400-5530.

Good luck to all of us; technology is most certainly a curse as well as a blessing.