We received another informational bulletin regarding a consumer data breach... Largest Data Breach To Date Involves 1.2 Billion Names Change All Passwords! August 6, 2014....News from Hold Security of Milwaukee indicates the discovery of a massive data breach that has involved 1.2 billion username and password combinations and more than 500 million email addresses. The entities involved have not been disclosed but early reports are indicating that the breaches could involve more than 500 million email addresses from 420,000 websites ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses. It is believed that the massive attack is the work of a Russian gang. Everyone is urged to change all passwords for any online accounts they may use as soon as possible. The news follows months of speculation which began shortly after several large data breaches were announced last winter. At that time, investigators who regularly scan internet sites where stolen information is sold began quietly hinting that there were many more names and passwords for sale than could be accounted for from the announced data breaches. At that time, the number of victims from undisclosed data breaches could not be determined but many experts were estimating that there was another massive breach larger than the Target Corporation breach that had yet to be discovered. Due to agreements between various parties, companies that have been involved have not yet been disclosed. Many are quickly working to correct the breach before making the news public. We encourage anyone who has a regular internet account with any business or organization that may have your private financial information or your date of birth or social security number to immediately change passwords. As added security, data breach victims may contact the credit reporting bureaus to place a 90-day fraud alert on their credit reports. While the fraud alert will not prevent a thief from using an existing account, it will help to prevent a thief from opening new accounts using the victim’s information. Here are the phone numbers to place fraud alerts: Equifax – 1-800-525-6285 Experian – 1-888-397-3742 Transunion – 1-800-680-7289 Over the coming weeks and months, the public should carefully monitor their bank and credit card statements and quickly inform the bank or credit card company if they see unauthorized activity on a statement. Maine Identity Services, LLC can assist data breach victims and provide a repair kit for U.S. residents whose information has been exposed through a data breach. Those wishing more information can contact Maine Identity Services at 1-855-463-4343 or or visit our website at: meidhelp
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 13:13:42 +0000
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