Mother of all breaches: Now What?

What should you do when everyone's names, emails, and passwords are easily accessible to malicious actors, data brokers, or services in one place? Yes, I'm referring to every person in the world with an online account.

On January 23rd, security researchers discovered a massive data breach file compiled from thousands of previous breaches. This file contained 26 billion records, including data from major companies like Tencent, Weibo, MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn, Zynga, Adobe, and government organizations from various countries. Remarkably, only 30% of this data is new.

To put this into perspective, the world has 8 billion people, yet this breach list comprises 26 billion records. In 2023 alone, over two thousand breaches occurred, affecting 234 million victims. This frequency and scale of data breaches are unprecedented, making it easier for hackers to exploit this information.

As a consumer, it's challenging to know how to react. Despite changing passwords frequently, using multi-factor authentication, employing password managers, monitoring for dark web activity, subscribing to identity protection services, using VPNs for sensitive websites, and avoiding suspicious emails and links, the threat remains. Our data, even when entrusted to companies making their best efforts to protect it, is still vulnerable.

On top of the basic safety guidelines I mentioned above, I plan to use additional proactive strategies:

• Use Password Managers: If you don't use one, it is time to use one.
• Use Unique Credentials: Different email/user/password for each service.
• Credit Lockdown: Secure your credit with Experian, Equifax, TransUnion, and Innovis.
• Medical Safeguards: Implement security measures with your healthcare providers.
• Protect Your Identity: Vigilantly monitor potential unemployment fraud.
• Secure Key Accounts: Strengthen the security of your Social Security, id.me, USPS, FedEx, and UPS accounts.
• Passphrase-Protect Banking: Ensure bank account changes require verbal confirmation.

We find ourselves in a relentless battle to safeguard our digital identities. It's a solitary struggle, but by utilizing every tool at our disposal, we can fortify our defenses against the inevitable breaches of our online personal information. Let's stay vigilant and empowered in this digital age.