Consumer credit reporting bureau Equifax today announced a major data breach affecting approximately 143 million Americans. The company said that from mid-May through the end of July, criminals exploited an Equifax website vulnerability to access names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and in some cases driver’s licenses.
The company also said that about 209,000 Americans’ credit card numbers were accessed, along with credit dispute documents with personally identifying information for 182,000 consumers. “The company has found no evidence of unauthorized activity on Equifax’s core consumer or commercial credit reporting databases,” it said.
Equifax has set up a website to help consumers determine if their information was breached and, if so, to sign up for credit monitoring and identity theft protection offered by TrustedID, an Equifax subsidiary. Equifax will also mail notices to consumers whose credit card numbers or dispute documents were breached. Check the website.
