Affected by a Data Breach? 6 Security Steps You Should Take

Five Tips to Secure Your Credit Card Data From This Recent Data Breach

Users share their personal information with companies for multiple reasons. Whether they’re checking into a hotel room, using a credit card to make a purchase at their favorite food spot, or collecting rewards points at a local coffee shop, consumers give companies more access to data than they may realize. While this can help you build relationships with your favorite vendors, what happens if their security is compromised?

Dickey’s BBQ Breach

Just this week, for example, cybercriminals were found online to be selling a batch of over three million credit card records – all from cards that were used at Dickey’s BBQ establishments over the past 13-15 months. Researchers stated that Dickey’s payment systems were likely compromised by card-stealing malware, with the highest exposure in California and Arizona. What’s more, financial institutions that have been working with the researchers stated that they have already observed a significant amount of fraud carried out with these cards.

Staying Secure in Light of Data Breaches

If you think you were affected by this breach, there are multiple steps you can take to help protect yourself from the potential side effects.

Check out the following tips if you think you may have been affected by a recent data breach, or just want to take extra precautions:

Keep an eye on your bank account

One of the most effective ways to determine whether someone is fraudulently using your credit card information is to monitor your bank statements. If you see any charges that you did not make, report it

Place a fraud alert

If you suspect that your data might have been compromised, place a fraud alert on your credit. This not only ensures that any new or recent requests undergo scrutiny, but also allows you to have extra copies of your credit report so you can check for suspicious activity.

Freeze your credit

Freezing your credit will make it impossible for criminals to take out loans or open new accounts in your name. To do this effectively, you will need to freeze your credit at each of the three major credit-reporting agencies (Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian).

Consider using identity theft protection

A solution like McAfee Identify Theft Protection will help you to monitor your accounts and alert you of any suspicious activity.

Expand your security toolbox

To use your credit card safely online to make purchases, add both a VPN and password manager into your toolbox of security solutions. A VPN keeps your shopping experience private, while a password manager helps you keep track of and protect all your online accounts. And both, luckily, come included in McAfee Total Protection.

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