Yet another data-breach letter? Here's what to do

"Jim Lafleur wasn't paying much attention to his mail anymore. After all, it was mostly flyers and other junk. Even when a letter arrived from his bank, Estes Savings and Loan, it didn't stand out as anything special; in fact, he had received two, nearly identical letters like it just that month - another data breach had happened, with yet another boilerplate set of legal terms in yet another notice he didn't quite understand."

"In this age of online banking, social media, and electronic retailing, Jim knew that much of his sensitive information was probably already available on the dark web but, somehow, this felt different, more personal. This was his bank, an institution he picked because of its local roots. He liked supporting the community. Keeping money in a bank was supposed to be safe, and so this felt like a breach of trust. He felt like he needed to act this time, but the path was unclear."

"Jim's experience is not unique. Data breaches are reported every day in the United States and around the world. Indeed, how could they not be so prevalent? Much of modern life depends on digital services. Unfortunately, however, standards for cybersecurity have lagged behind the increased use of these services. Moreover, criminals have gotten very good at hacking our most sensitive details, and those hacks are coming in many forms."

Jim Lafleur received repeated breach notices from his bank indicating that his personal information had been exposed and offering credit monitoring services. The notices felt personal because they came from his trusted local bank, making the breach feel like a violation of trust. Data breaches occur daily as digital services proliferate while cybersecurity standards lag. Criminals exploit many vulnerabilities, with ransomware being the most common form, where attackers exploit business network weaknesses to extort payment. Individuals can mitigate harm by using two-factor authentication, fraud protection, and credit monitoring, but clearer guidance and stronger institutional security are needed to reduce recurrence.

Read at The Oaklandside