{"id":133498,"date":"2024-09-23T05:43:18","date_gmt":"2024-09-23T12:43:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/?p=133498"},"modified":"2025-04-01T19:04:57","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T02:04:57","slug":"what-to-do-if-youre-caught-up-in-a-data-breach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/privacy-identity-protection\/what-to-do-if-youre-caught-up-in-a-data-breach\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Do If You\u2019re Caught Up in a Data Breach"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It happens with more regularity than any of us like to see. There\u2019s either a headline in your news feed or an email from a website or service you have an account with\u2014there\u2019s been a data breach. So what do you do when you find out that you and your information may have been caught up in a data breach? While it can feel like things are out of your hands, there are actually several things you can do to protect yourself.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Let\u2019s start with a look at what kind of information may be at stake and why crooks value that information so much (it\u2019s more reasons than you may think).<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What can get exposed in a data breach? <\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The fact is that plenty of our information is out there on the internet, simply because we go about so much of our day online, whether that involves shopping, banking, getting results from our doctors, or simply hopping online to play a game once in a while.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Naturally, that means the data in any given breach will vary from service to service and platform to platform involved. Certainly, a gaming service will certainly have different information about you than your insurance company. Yet broadly speaking, there\u2019s a broad range of information about you stored in various places, which could include: <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Username and password<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">E-mail address<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Phone numbers and home address<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Contact information of friends and family<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Date of birth<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Driver&#8217;s license number<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Credit card and debit card numbers, bank account details<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Purchase history and account behavior history<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Patient information (in the case of healthcare breaches)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Social Security Number or Tax ID Number<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As to what gets exposed and when you might find out about it, that can vary greatly as well. One industry research report found <a href=\"https:\/\/www.verizon.com\/about\/news\/2024-data-breach-investigations-report-vulnerability-exploitation-boom\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">that <\/a><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">t<\/span>he median time to detect breaches is 5 days<span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Needless to say, the timeline can get rather stretched before word reaches you, which is a good reason to change your passwords regularly should any of them get swept up in a breach. (An outdated password does a hacker no good\u2014more on that in a bit.)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What do crooks do with this kind of information?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The answer is plenty. In all, personal information like that listed above has a dollar value to it. In a way, your data and information are a kind of currency because they\u2019re tied to everything from your bank accounts, investments, insurance payments\u2014even tax returns and personal identification like driver\u2019s licenses.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">With this information in hand, a crook can commit several types of identity crime\u2014ranging from fraud to theft. In the case of fraud, that could include running up a bill on one of your credit cards or draining one of your bank accounts. In the case of theft, that could see crooks impersonate you so they can open new accounts or services in your name. Beyond that, they may attempt to claim your tax refund or potentially get an ID issued in your name as well.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Another possibility is that a hacker will simply sell that information on the dark marketplace, perhaps in large clumps or as individual pieces of information that go for a few dollars each. However it gets sold, these dark-market practices allow other fraudsters and thieves to take advantage of your identity for financial or other gains. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Most breaches are financially motivated, with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.verizon.com\/about\/news\/2023-data-breach-investigations-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">some researchers saying that 97% of breaches are about the money<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. However, we\u2019ve also seen hackers simply dump stolen information out there for practically anyone to see. The motivations behind them vary, yet they could involve anything from damaging the reputation of an organization to <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">cases of revenge<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Noteworthy examples of data breaches<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A list of big data breaches is a blog article of its own, yet here\u2019s a quick list of some of the largest and most impactful breaches we\u2019ve seen in recent years:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Facebook \u2013 2019: Two datasets leaked the records of more than 530 million users, including phone numbers, account names, Facebook IDs, and more.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Marriott International (Starwood) \u2013 2018. Leakage of 500,000 guest names, emails, actual mailing addresses, phone numbers, passport numbers, Starwood Preferred Guest account information, date of birth, and information about stays.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Equifax \u2013 2017. Approximately 147 million records, including name, address, date of birth, driver&#8217;s license numbers, and Social Security Numbers were leaked, as well as credit card information for a further 200,000 victims.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Needless to say, it\u2019s not just the big companies that get hit. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/learn\/how-to-make-telehealth-safer-for-a-more-convenient-life-online\/?path=blogs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Healthcare facilities have seen their data breached<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, along with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/privacy-identity-protection\/chipotles-marketing-account-hacked-protect-yourself-from-phishing-scam\/?hilite=%27chipotle%27\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">the operations of popular restaurants<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Small businesses find themselves in the crosshairs as well, with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cybersecurity-magazine.com\/10-small-business-cyber-security-statistics-that-you-should-know-and-how-to-improve-them\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">one report stating that 43% of data leaks target small businesses<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Those may come by way of an attack on where those businesses store their records, a disgruntled employee, or by way of a compromised point-of-sale terminal in their store, office, or location.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In short, when it comes to data breaches, practically any business is a potential target because practically every business is online in some form or fashion. Even if it\u2019s by way of a simple point-of-sale machine.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What to do if you think your information may have been exposed by a breach<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">When a business, service, or organization falls victim to a breach, it doesn\u2019t always mean that you\u2019re automatically a victim too. Your information may not have been caught up in it. However, it\u2019s best to act as if it was. With that, we strongly suggest you take these immediate steps.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong>1. Change your passwords and use two-factor authentication\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Given the possibility that your password may be in the hands of a hacker, change it right away.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/consumer\/strong-password-ideas-to-keep-your-information-safe\/?hilite=%27password%27\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Strong, unique passwords offer one of your best defenses against hackers.<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u202fUpdate them regularly as well. As mentioned above, this can protect you in the event a breach occurs and you don\u2019t find out about it until well after it\u2019s happened. You can spare yourself the upkeep that involves <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/learn\/password-manager\/?path=blogs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">a password manager that can keep on top of it all for you<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">. If your account offers two-factor authentication as part of the login process, make use of it as it adds another layer of security that\u202fmakes hacking tougher.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong>2. Keep an eye on your accounts\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If you spot unusual or unfamiliar charges or transactions in your account, bank, or debit card statements, follow up immediately. That could indicate improper use. In general, banks, credit card companies, and many businesses have countermeasures to deal with fraud, along with customer support teams that can help you file a claim if needed.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">3. Sign up for an identity protection service<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If you haven\u2019t done so already, consider signing up for a service that can monitor dozens of types of personal information and then alert you if any of them are possibly being misused. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/en-us\/identity-theft\/protection.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Identity protection such as ours gives you the added benefit of a professional recovery specialist who can assist with restoring your affairs in the wake of fraud or theft, plus up to $1 million in insurance coverage<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What if I think I\u2019m the victim of identity theft?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Our advice is to take a deep breath and get to work. By acting quickly, you can potentially minimize and even prevent any damage that\u2019s done. With that, we have two articles that can help guide the way if you think you\u2019re the victim of identity theft, each featuring a series of straightforward steps you can take to set matters right:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"4\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/consumer-cyber-awareness\/top-signs-of-identity-theft\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Top Signs of Identity Theft<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"4\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/consumer-cyber-awareness\/how-to-report-identity-theft-to-social-security\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">How to Report Identity Theft to Social Security<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Again, if you have any concerns. Take action. The first steps take only minutes. Even if the result is that you find out all\u2019s well, you\u2019ll have that assurance and you\u2019ll have it rather quickly.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It happens with more regularity than any of us like to see. There\u2019s either a headline in your news feed&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1407,"featured_media":201908,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[4145,11434,11437],"coauthors":[15735],"class_list":["post-133498","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-privacy-identity-protection","tag-data-breach","tag-what-is-a-data-breach","tag-what-to-do-when-your-data-is-breached"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What to Do If You\u2019re Caught Up in a Data Breach | McAfee Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It happens with more regularity than any of us like to see. There\u2019s either a headline in your news feed or an email from a website or service you have an\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What to Do If You\u2019re Caught Up in a Data Breach | McAfee Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"It happens with more regularity than any of us like to see. 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