October 12, 2020

Five of the Biggest Data Hacks – From Yahoo to Ashley Madison and Equifax

A review of five of the most memorable hacks and how you can find out if you’ve been hacked.

We may think we’ll never be hacked, but there’s a common saying in cybersecurity: “There are two types of companies: those that have been hacked and those that don’t know they have been hacked.”

Now think: How often do you share sensitive information over the internet? If you’re like most people, you hand over your information several times a day. A lunch order? It requires your full name, credit card information, and address. An email to a colleague? It could potentially include company account login information, employee salaries, or proprietary information.

As we continue about our day, we trust a wide variety of companies to keep all of our information secure. Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, companies can fall short when it comes to protecting your personal data.

Five Memorable Hacks

Here are five times major companies didn’t live up to their security promises:

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How to check if you’ve been hacked?

Chances are you won’t find out you’ve been hacked until it’s too late and your information has been sold. Luckily, there are tools that help you see if your account or password has been compromised. Here are a few steps you can take to check if you’ve been hacked:

  • iPhones with iOS 14, you can check if your keychain passwords are on a data leak. Simply go to Settings > Passwords > Security Recommendations.
  • Visit https://haveibeenpwned.com/ to enter your email address or password to see if it has appeared in a data leak.
  • If you suspect a specific account has been hacked, you may be able to check in your settings whether there’s a login session from a different location or device.

What to do if you’ve been hacked?

Each situation is different and may require different steps. Here are some basic steps to take if your account is hacked:

  • Update your password. Use our guide to select a strong password or passphrase.
  • Review all active sessions. If you don’t recognize any devices or login locations, remove them, or end their session.
  • Check to see if there have been any changes to your account. From your email and phone number to financial information, make sure everything is in line with your information.
  • Do a full security audit of all your accounts. If you use the same email or password for any other account, update your login information. Make sure none of your other accounts have been impacted.
  • If you’re a victim of fraud, make sure to contact the law enforcement and the appropriate party.

Remember, the best way to protect yourself from getting hacked is to limit the amount of personal data you share. For more tips, check out our guide on How to Protect Yourself Against Hackers.

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