5 Steps to take after being hacked
Uh oh — you’ve been hacked! Luckily, there are ways to mitigate the damage and jumpstart your recovery process. Here are 5 steps to take after being hacked.
Step 1: Assess the damage.
First, determine the damage. Unfortunately, one hacked password can be the gateway to multiple hacked accounts and even identity theft. Review your credit card, check account statements for suspicious activity, and try accessing your email, social media accounts, and mobile devices to see if they still work.
Step 2: Change your passwords
Once you know which accounts and devices have been hacked, change their passwords and PINs. For an added measure of protection, it’s a good idea to change the passwords on all your accounts that may hold sensitive information. Remember to choose strong, unique passwords for every account.
Step 3: Protect your credit.
Dispute any fraudulent charges on your compromised account(s). And, if necessary, have the account(s) locked or even removed.
Next, place a fraud alert on your credit reports. This alert serves as a red flag to potential lenders and creditors. Also, consider a credit freeze, which blocks potential lenders from accessing your credit report. Freezing your credit makes it impossible for the hacker to open new credit in your name.
Step 4: Alert the authorities.
You can alert the FTC of a possible or confirmed identity theft at identitytheft.gov. You’ll also find a detailed recovery plan on the site to help you repair your credit and reclaim your identity.
Even though hacking usually occurs remotely, it’s still good to let local law enforcement agencies know about the breach.
Also, if you haven’t already done so, don’t forget to let Elevate Credit Union know what’s happening! If you fall prey to a hack, call us at (435) 723.3437 to see how we can help.
Step 5: Proceed with caution.
It’s essential to keep a close eye on your accounts for the next month. First, watch for suspicious activity on all accounts. If you spot any, let the account holders know and follow the steps above.
Also, if you’ve opted to go with a credit freeze, it will generally lapse after 90 days, so you may want to restart it. And, once your accounts are safe, consider opening new credit to jumpstart the recovery of your credit health.
Now you know the 5 steps to take after being hacked. Make sure you share this with your family and friends to help them stay safe too. And if you found this post helpful, check out our other posts on the MoneySmart Tips blog.
