642 - Data breaches affect us all
- janelehman
- Nov 2, 2022
- 2 min read
Data breaches are the first step in identity theft.
A data breach is a process where thieves hack into computer systems and other data sources to steal private and sensitive information.
Businesses experience data breaches at a far greater rate than ever before.
Important information including customer information, payment information, employee records, and bank accounts is then harvested and sold on the dark web.
What most people still do not understand is that most identity theft IS NOT MONITORED.
People tell me every day that they're covered through their credit card company or their bank. They don't understand that their bank covers credit fraud-related matters only. They protect your money.
Identity theft does not occur only online.
The medical industry, among others, is a prime target for thieves to become employed so they can gain access to patient files. It only takes a minute to extract a significant amount of data from any computer.
Business owners face the possibility of liability issues in the event a client or employee experiences identity theft as a result of a data breach.
It makes sense to protect their employees because that protects the business too.
Employees may lose time from work to handle identity theft issues.
Imagine being the victim of identity theft and not knowing it. A doctor, preacher, CEO, professor or other high-profile people can be ruined if suddenly news gets out that they are a thief (on paper).
There can be legal repercussions and this is one area where you have to prove you are not guilty.
If a sex offender registers a person's address instead of his own, it can have damaging effects on the innocent.
Consider a few of the following:
a school teacher in California went to renew her license and learned there were 8 bench warrants out for her arrest, for prostitution! She could no longer teach until her record was exonerated.
an 18 yr old went to get her first job. The company told her they could not employ her because she already worked there. Further investigation showed that her social security number was being used in 9 other states for employment.
Today, every business should provide identity theft protection for the business and the employees.
There is so much more but it will have to wait for another time.
Do you have comprehensive identity theft protection for your family, business, and employees?
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