A data breach is one of the most common problems that businesses face today. It can give hackers access to sensitive customer information, such as credit card details, SSNs, health information, etc.
As a customer or a stakeholder, this can be a challenging situation. It can leave you exposed to financial loss, identity theft, and even emotional distress.
Sadly, you can’t have much control over a business getting hacked.
But how you act after being notified about the breach is crucial. Taking quick action instead of panicking can prevent your data from being exploited and keep you secure.
Here are 8 immediate steps to take to prevent losses whenever you get notified of a breach:
1. Change The Passwords
The first step should be to change your passwords when notified of a breach. This will secure your accounts and prevent hackers from accessing them.
Also, if you are using similar passwords for multiple websites or portals, change them as well. Many people habitually keep one password for various platforms because it’s easy to remember. However, this can give easy access to hackers.
If remembering your passwords is a hassle, you can use wallets like 1Password, Keeper, or LastPass.
Don’t delay this step. Changing your passwords significantly reduces the risks of cybercrimes when there’s a threat that someone may have access to your data.
Additional Advice: Make it a habit to change your passwords periodically. Even without data breaches, people can still try to hack your accounts independently. Changing passwords every 2 weeks or so is best to reduce the chances of losing access to your accounts.
And if your accounts contain sensitive data, you can even change them in shorter timeframes.
2. Enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA)
Activating MFA means that when someone tries to log in to the accounts and enters the password, they get a verification code. Once the correct code is entered, the account can be accessed.
Without the correct code, access will be denied.
This serves as an additional protection layer for your accounts because it ensures that no one can log in even if they have the password.
There are several ways MFA can be set up. Common verification models are:
- Authentication applications
- Security keys
- Text messages
You can also set up multiple verifications at once to increase security.
When you set up MFA, platforms immediately send you a notification to confirm the login. If you receive a notification without logging in yourself, the hacker is likely trying to access your account.
You can change the password and notify the respective platform about unauthorised attempts to access your account.
You can do this for all accounts, including the banks, emails, and social media.
3. Check Your Accounts For Fraudulent Activities
Most hackers are financially motivated to carry out breaches. So, it’s highly likely that they’ll want to access your personal bank accounts to steal money.
If they’ve got access to your card information, they can also try to use it for online purchases.
The best plan is to notify your bank about a third-party breach. If possible, get new cards from the bank so your information can’t be used for online purchases or other financial activities.
Do this as quickly as possible because hackers can also make suspicious purchases which can land you in legal trouble. When the bank knows of potential fraud, it’ll keep you safe.
Moreover, as mentioned, activate multifactor authentication on your bank accounts for additional safety.
If you are still worried, you can also request your bank to give a confirmation call before processing any payments. This way, no transaction will be completed without a confirmation call, and you can live peacefully.
4. Freeze Your Credit
Identity theft is a common consequence of data breaches. Cybercriminals use your data to create fake profiles and take credit in your name.
If you are really concerned, you can contact credit agencies, who can freeze your credit to protect you.
Some names that you can consider for this purpose include:
- Equifax
- Experion
- TransUnion
This step will protect your digital identity and keep hackers from causing harm under your name.
5. Carefully Review the Breach Notification
If you’ve implemented steps 1-4, you’ve significantly avoided the risks of being hacked or having someone access your accounts.
It’s now time to be vigilant and prevent getting your accounts from being compromised in the future.
So, go to the breach notification and read it carefully to analyse the extent of damages. See what they’ve mentioned and if there’s something you may have missed.
Most businesses also mention how data breaches can impact customers and how the consequences can be avoided. Look for information like:
- What data got exposed (passwords, card numbers, etc.)
- How the company is handling the breach.
- The precautions the company suggests to keep your accounts secure.
Also, keep an eye on the company updates.
Statistics show that it can take an average of 74+ days to contain a breach. So a business may know about the impacts of the breach incrementally and update its customers as new information comes to light.
Therefore, regularly check the company’s social media and website for updates.
6. Get Good Cybersecurity Protection
When your device is thoroughly protected, you largely avoid the risks of cyberattacks and unauthorised access. So, ensure that you have top-notch tools to keep your devices secure.
Some common examples:
- A good antivirus/anti-malware program
- DNS filtering to block malicious sites
- Email spam filtering for phishing
Also, use a VPN to browse the internet.
It provides an additional layer of security in masking your digital identity. You should particularly use a VPN when browsing the internet in public places like malls, cafes, or airports.
Using these options will keep you safe, and with all the measures in place, data breaches won’t likely cause trouble.
7. Be on the Lookout for Phishing Scams
Hackers can access people’s email addresses during a breach. They then use them to send phishing emails and invade devices later.
This means that after a breach, you’ll probably receive more emails that can carry phishing threats. Usually, email service providers are decent at filtering out phishing emails, and they get sent to the spam folder.
But hackers are getting smarter with their messaging, as they now have AI to back them up. Some phishing emails can be so convincing that it’s hard to distinguish them from an actual email.
So, ensure excessive caution with emails. Don’t open anything that looks remotely suspicious.
Besides that, here are some email best practices to implement:
- Hover over the email links to see a thumbnail to judge whether it’s legitimate or not.
- Use link-checking tools to verify that a link is safe to open or not.
- If there is a promotion or offer, don’t click the link. Instead, visit the website directly.
- Watch out for obvious scams, and don’t be tempted by them.
- Be super alert of emails from unknown sources.
- Avoid clicking sketchy links.
Sometimes, hackers can control the emails of your peers as well. This means you can get legitimate-looking emails from your peers which can contain phishing links.
If that appears to be the case, verify with the sender before taking any action.
8. Make Sure to Update Software & Systems
Oftentimes, operating systems (OS) and software have unpatched vulnerabilities that hackers can easily exploit.
OS developers and software manufacturers constantly monitor weak areas and fix them via updates. However, people who don’t update their devices in a timely manner are susceptible to these attacks.
It’s good practice to keep your devices and software updated at all times. That also includes your printers, WiFi router firmware, and even your smart devices.
We understand that managing all the updates manually can be a bit challenging. The best practice is to turn on auto-updates so your devices always run on the latest patch.
It’s a good and easy way to protect yourself from a breach.
Conclusive Thoughts – Managed Security Services You Can Count On
Keeping your electronics and smart devices secure can be challenging. If they aren’t properly protected, they could become an entry point for hackers, leading to losses for you.
The damage isn’t always financial – it can also cause emotional stress that takes time to recover from.
If you want strong, reliable security for your devices, we are here to help. Schedule a chat with us, and we’ll help you stay safe while you access the digital world.
