Approximately 179 million Americans’ Personally Identifiable Information (PII) was exposed by the 2017 Equifax data breach.  Everything enclosed in your credit file could have been exposed. Your name, birth dates, address, social security numbers, driver license numbers, phone numbers, etc.  In short, everything a cyber thief needs to establish credit in your name or worse, take your identity over and stealing your house right out from under you. They go to the DMV and get your driver’s license with their picture on it, and off they go...

Equifax has an estimated $7.2B in assets

Even a company as large as Equifax with all its resources couldn’t prevent your personal data from being exposed.  Poor cybersecurity policies and lack of procedures to make sure all software security patches were installed in a timely manner clearly were not followed. After an extensive government investigation, Equifax executives who knew of the breach but failed to report it to authorities all the while selling millions of dollars in stock before the breach was disclosed.  

Jun Ying, the “Chief Information Officer,” ultimately the one in charge of the security of the company's computer systems was indicted for insider trading after selling $950,000 in stock before the data breach was reported to authorities. Ying has pled not guilty, and his trial is pending.

Sudhakar Reddy Bonthu, a manager with Equifax who is not a U.S. citizen but an employee of Equifax, pled guilty to insider trading had to pay a $50,000 fine, serve 50 hours of community service and faces deportation as a result of his felony conviction.

Due to the sheer number of individuals exposed if you’ve ever purchased on credit or have had a loan you’re likely among those affected by this breach.

The seriousness of this release of PII cannot be overestimated.  Unlike a credit card theft which can be easily cured by disputing the fraudulent charges and canceling the card and reissuing a new card, the exposure of the personally identifiable information could make you a victim for life.

The threat of identity theft from this exposure will last a lifetime.

Equifax recently announced it would be extending free credit monitoring to everyone whose data was exposed.  Equifax said the monitoring service would be provided by one of its closest competitors further emphasizing the seriousness of this data breach.

Credit monitoring is good, but who picks up the pieces after you’ve been victimized?

Monitoring is just that monitoring.  While it’s great to know someone else has used your identity and credit to commit fraud in your name, who’s going repair the damage?  And who’s going to pay if the damage cannot be corrected? With credit monitoring alone you’re left to handle the repercussions of identity fraud on your own.

You need comprehensive identity theft/fraud protection

IDENTITY Armor’s identity theft and fraud protection provides you with $1 millions coverage identity theft and fraud protection, up to $5,000 in lost wage protection, and $1,000 in emergency cash should your bank account being drained, and your bank refuses to assist you.  

IDENTITY Armor has been protecting Americans since 2014, has an A+ accreditation with the Better Business Bureau, and a spotless record in identity theft/fraud protection.  Don’t wait until you’re the next victim. Click here or call us today at (888) 556-7609 to establish the protection you need to secure what you’ve taken a lifetime to build.