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Do You Have a Plan to Protect Your Personal Data?

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Your Survival Guy recently received an alarming email. It told me that my personal data from the DNA service 23andMe could have been breached. But it also reminded me that I have help in dealing with the situation. I subscribe to LifeLock. (NOTE: This is not a paid advertisement for LifeLock). LifeLock noticed the breach, and here’s what they sent me in an email:

Why am I receiving this?  

A security incident has surfaced. You may or may not have been affected, but as always, we want to make you aware of the incident and remind you that you can take steps to help protect yourself. Check to make sure that you’re responding to LifeLock alerts, updating any software you use, changing your passwords often, and always watching out for phishing attempts.

What happened?  

A technique that exploits people reusing old passwords was the likely cause of a 23andMe security breach that exposed the personal information of nearly 7 million people. The genetic testing company reports that hackers stole names, birth years, relationship info, and other data. If exploited, cybercriminals can use this information to commit identity theft

We have your back.  

You can feel confident knowing that your membership gives you the tools you need if your information becomes exposed from this incident or others. You’ll get an alert if we detect possible fraudulent use of your information or find it on the dark web. If you become victim of ID theft, we work to fix it.

Any new info you’d like us to monitor?  

Your plan already includes Dark Web Monitoring, so make sure your information is complete and current. Take a moment to add or update information like your email, home address, phone number, credit card numbers, and more. We’ll send you a notification if we detect your personal information on the dark web. In the event this happens, please refer to our dedicated support page.

LifeLock is an identity theft protection software. There are many others like it, and Your Survival Guy isn’t pushing you to get LifeLock. But I do recommend you consider a similar product to monitor the security of your personal information. If you don’t want to use a service like LifeLock, here are some signs you can monitor to determine if you may have had your identity stolen:

  • Bills for things you didn’t buy
  • Debt collection calls for accounts you didn’t open
  • Inaccurate information on your credit report
  • Denial of loan applications
  • Mail that stops coming to, or is missing from, your mailbox
  • A phone, electricity, or gas account opened in your name
  • A missing tax refund or government benefits
  • Medical bills or insurance charges for procedures you didn’t have

If you think your identity may have been stolen, you can report identity theft with the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov. They’ll help you build a recovery plan to get your life back.

Be Intelligent: Join Dick Young & Get My Friday Email

Action Line: Consider buying a service like LifeLock, and be sure to closely monitor your accounts and credit reports for signs of anything out of the ordinary. Click here to subscribe to my free monthly Survive & Thrive letter.

 

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E.J. Smith - Your Survival Guy

E.J. Smith is Founder of YourSurvivalGuy.com, Managing Director at Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd., a Managing Editor of Richardcyoung.com, and Editor-in-Chief of Youngresearch.com. His focus at all times is on preparing clients and readers for “Times Like These.” E.J. graduated from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, with a B.S. in finance and investments. In 1995, E.J. began his investment career at Fidelity Investments in Boston before joining Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd. in 1998. E.J. has trained at Sig Sauer Academy in Epping, NH. His first drum set was a 5-piece Slingerland with Zildjians. He grew-up worshiping Neil Peart (RIP) of the band Rush, and loves the song Tom Sawyer—the name of his family’s boat, a Grady-White Canyon 306. He grew up in Mattapoisett, MA, an idyllic small town on the water near Cape Cod. He spends time in Newport, RI and Bartlett, NH—both as far away from Wall Street as one could mentally get. The Newport office is on a quiet, tree lined street not far from the harbor and the log cabin in Bartlett, NH, the “Live Free or Die” state, sits on the edge of the White Mountain National Forest. He enjoys spending time in Key West (RIP JB) and Paris. Please get in touch with E.J. at ejsmith@yoursurvivalguy.com To sign up for my free monthly Survive & Thrive letter, click here.
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