Researchers Note:
Orchestrated! Not hacked!
Equifax data
breach: What you need to know
by Kaya Yurieff
@kyurieff September 10, 2017: 1:11 PM ET
A huge security breach
at credit reporting company Equifax has
exposed sensitive information, such as Social
Security numbers and addresses, of up to 143 million Americans.
Unlike other data breaches, those affected by the breach
may not even know they're customers of the company.
Equifax (EFX)
is one of three nationwide credit-reporting agencies that track and rate the
financial history of consumers. The company gets its data from credit card
companies, banks, retailers and lenders -- sometimes without you knowing.
The data breach is among the worst ever because of the
amount of people affected and the sensitive type of information exposed.
How many people were
affected?
The company says as many as 143 million people in the
United States were hit. Others in the U.K. and Canada were also impacted, but
Equifax hasn't said how many. Credit card numbers for about 209,000 U.S.
customers were compromised, in addition to "personal identifying
information" on about 182,000 U.S. customers.
Who was impacted?
Equifax said it will send notices in the mail to people
whose credit card numbers or dispute records were breached. The company said it
found no evidence that consumers in other countries were affected beyond the U.S.,
U.K.
and Canada.
What information was
accessed?
The hackers accessed personal information such as names, Social Security
numbers, birth dates, addresses, credit card numbers
and the numbers of some driver's licenses.
When did this happen?
Equifax said the breach happened between mid-May and
July. It discovered the hack on July 29. It informed the public on September 7.
How did this happen?
Equifax said criminals "exploited a U.S. website
application vulnerability to gain access to certain files." A company
spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.
Who was
behind the breach?
The company hasn't clarified but noted an investigation
is ongoing.
Am I at risk, and what
is Equifax doing to help?
Equifax is proposing that customers sign up for credit
file monitoring and identity theft protection. It is giving free service for
one year through its TrustedID
Premier business, regardless of whether you've been impacted by the hack.
To enroll and/or check whether you were affected, visit www.equifaxsecurity2017.com and click on the Check
Potential Impact tab. You'll need to provide your last name and the last
six digits of your social security number. Once submitted, you will receive a
message indicating whether
you've been affected.
Then, you have the option to enroll in the program, but
you can't actually sign up for the service until next week. Each customer is
provided an enrollment date starting earliest on Monday.
Can I sue Equifax?
If you sign up for Equifax's offer of free identity theft
protection and credit file monitoring, you may be limiting your rights to sue
and be forced to take disputes to arbitration. But you can opt
out of that provision if you notify the company in writing within 30 days.
In addition, some attorneys argue that even if you don't opt out, the arbitration
provision does not cover suits related to this breach.
Is anyone investigating
the breach?
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman launched a
formal investigation into the hack on Friday.
Meanwhile, Congressman Ted Lieu, a Democrat from
California, sent a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte
and ranking member John Conyers calling for a hearing to investigate the data
breach.
The House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb
Hensarling, a Republican from Texas, also said his committee will hold a
hearing on the breach.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is
looking into the breach as well
"The CFPB is authorized to take enforcement action
against institutions engaged in unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or
practices, or that otherwise violate federal consumer financial laws. We are
looking into the data breach and Equifax's response, but cannot comment further
at this time," a spokesperson told CNNMoney.
It seems like
cybersecurity hacks are happening a lot. Is this the biggest ever?
The Equifax breach is one of the largest breaches ever.
Some other
high-profile examples include two breaches at Yahoo -- the bigger one involved
1 billion accounts, the lesser impacted 500 million -- and a hack at Myspace
that involved 360 million accounts.
Have you been affected by the Equifax hack? Have you
ever had your identity stolen? Tell us about it and you could be included in an upcoming
CNNMoney story. Click here.
Let’s connect the dots:
Social Security Administration
James Roosevelt
Jr. was an associate commissioner for the Social Security Administration, and is a director at the America's Health Insurance Plans.
Note: Akin,
Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP was the lobby firm for the America's Health Insurance Plans, Equifax Inc., Visa U.S.A. Inc., and the American Express Company.
Vernon E. Jordan
Jr. is a senior counsel for Akin,
Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP, an honorary trustee at the Brookings
Institution (think tank), Valerie B. Jarrett’s great uncle, a
director at the American Friends of Bilderberg (think tank), was a
director at the American Express Company,
the president of the Economic Club of
Washington, and a 2008 Bilderberg conference participant (think
tank).
Foundation
to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution
(think tank), Refugees
International, and the Committee for Economic Development.
George Soros
was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, Mark Schwartz was his senior adviser,
is a director emeritus for Refugees
International, a board member for the International
Crisis Group, the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, and the founder of the Soros Fund Management.
Mark
Malloch-Brown was the vice chairman for Refugees International, a minister of state for the United Kingdom (UK), is a co-chair for
the International Crisis Group, and
a global board member for the Open
Society Foundations.
Mark Schwartz was
George Soros’s senior adviser, the president
& CEO for the Soros Fund Management,
and a director at MasterCard Incorporated.
David M.
Rubenstein is a co-chairman for the Brookings Institution (think tank), and the president of the Economic Club of Washington.
Peter L. Scher
is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and a director at the Economic Club of Washington.
Carol A. Melton was
a director at
the Economic Club of Washington, and
a trustee at the Committee for Economic
Development.
Robert G.
Liberatore was a director at the Economic
Club of Washington, and a trustee at the Committee for Economic Development.
John L. Clendenin
was a trustee at the Committee for
Economic Development, and a director at Equifax Inc.
Carolyn S. Chin
was a trustee at the Committee for
Economic Development, and is a member of the Belizean Grove.
Siri S. Marshall
is a member of the Belizean Grove,
and a director at Equifax Inc.
Belizean_Grove
is the equivalent to the male-only social group, the Bohemian Club.
Henrietta Holsman
Fore is a
member of the Belizean Grove, and a
trustee at the Committee for Economic
Development.
Julie
Daum is a member of the Belizean
Grove, and was a trustee at the Committee
for Economic Development.
Davia B. Temin is a member of the Belizean Grove, and was a trustee at
the Committee for Economic Development.
Mary Agnes
Wilderotter is a
member of the Belizean Grove, and a
trustee at the Committee for Economic
Development.
Marion C. Blakey
is a member of the Belizean Grove, was
a chairman for the National
Transportation Safety Board, and an administrator for the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration.
Merit E. Janow is
a member of the Belizean Grove, and
a director at MasterCard Incorporated.
National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration is a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Mary Schiavo was
an inspector general for the U.S.
Department of Transportation, and is an analyst for CNN.
Ray
H. LaHood was the secretary for the U.S.
Department of Transportation, and Kathryn
B. Thomson was his counselor.
Kathryn B.
Thomson was Ray H. LaHood’s counselor,
a general counsel for the U.S.
Department of Transportation, a partner at Sidley Austin LLP, and is married to Christopher P. Lu.
Sidley Austin
LLP is the lobby firm for MasterCard
International Incorporated.
MasterCard
International Incorporated is a subsidiary of MasterCard Incorporated.
Christopher P. Lu
was a senior partner at Sidley Austin
LLP, a secretary for the U.S.
Department of Transportation, and is married to Kathryn B. Thomson.
Samuel K. Skinner
was a secretary for the U.S. Department
of Transportation, and a senior partner at Sidley Austin LLP.
Michelle Obama
was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.
Barack
Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin
LLP, and Obamacare is his signature
policy initiative.
CGI Group Inc.
was the Obamacare contractor that
developed Healthcare.gov web site.
Donna S. Morea
was the EVP for the CGI Group Inc.,
and a trustee at the Committee for
Economic Development.
John L. Clendenin
was a trustee at the Committee for
Economic Development, and a director at Equifax Inc.
Carol A. Melton
was a trustee at the Committee for
Economic Development, and a director at the Economic Club of Washington.
David M.
Rubenstein is the president of the Economic
Club of Washington, a co-chairman for the Brookings Institution
(think tank), and a friend of Thomas
E. Donilon.
Peter L. Scher
is a director at the Economic Club of Washington, and a
trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).
Vernon E. Jordan
Jr. was the president of the Economic Club of Washington, a director at the American Express Company, is a senior counsel for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP,
an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), Valerie B. Jarrett’s great uncle, a director at the American
Friends of Bilderberg (think tank), and a 2008 Bilderberg conference
participant (think tank).
Akin,
Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP was the lobby firm for the America's Health Insurance Plans, Visa U.S.A. Inc., Equifax Inc., and the American Express Company.
James Roosevelt
Jr. is a director at the America's
Health Insurance Plans, and was an associate commissioner for the Social Security Administration.
Suzanne Nora
Johnson is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and a director at Visa Inc.
Visa U.S.A. Inc.
is a subsidiary of Visa Inc.
Visa Canada is a
subsidiary of Visa Inc.
Maynard G. Webb
Jr. is a director at Visa Inc.,
and a chairman emeritus for Yahoo! Inc.
Suzanne Nora
Johnson is a director at Visa Inc.,
and was a governor for the American Red
Cross.
Martha Nelson is
an SVP at Yahoo! Inc., and was a governor
for the American Red Cross.
Ajay
Banga is a governor for the American
Red Cross, and the president & CEO for MasterCard Incorporated.
Gina F. Adams was
a governor for
the American Red Cross, and a
director at the Economic Club of
Washington.
Carol A. Melton
was a director at the Economic Club of
Washington, and a trustee at the Committee
for Economic Development.
John L. Clendenin
was a trustee at the Committee for
Economic Development, and a director at Equifax Inc.
Ronald A. Williams
is a trustee at the Committee for
Economic Development, and a director at the American Express Company.
Steven E. Carr
was a governor for
the American Red Cross, and a
director at Refugees International.
Carol Ann Haake
was a governor for the American Red
Cross, and a director at Refugees
International.
Michael W.
Hawkins was a governor for the American
Red Cross, and is a director at Refugees
International.
Mark
Malloch-Brown was the vice chairman for Refugees International, a minister of state for the United Kingdom (UK), is a co-chair for
the International Crisis Group, and
a global board member for the Open
Society Foundations.
Ann F. Kaplan was
a governor for the American Red Cross,
and is a member of the Belizean Grove.
Siri S. Marshall
is a member of the Belizean Grove,
and a director at Equifax Inc.
Belizean_Grove
is the equivalent to the male-only social group, the Bohemian Club.
Henrietta
Holsman Fore is a member of the Belizean
Grove, and a trustee at the Committee
for Economic Development.
Julie
Daum is a member of the Belizean
Grove, and was a trustee at the Committee
for Economic Development.
Davia B. Temin is
a member of the Belizean Grove, and
was a trustee at the Committee for
Economic Development.
Mary Agnes
Wilderotter is a member of the Belizean
Grove, and a trustee at the Committee
for Economic Development.
Marion C. Blakey
is a member of the Belizean Grove, was
a chairman for the National
Transportation Safety Board, and an administrator for the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration.
Merit E. Janow is
a member of the Belizean Grove, and
a director at MasterCard Incorporated.
National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration is a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Elizabeth H. Dole
was the secretary for the U.S.
Department of Transportation, and the president for the American Red Cross.
Ann F. Kaplan was
a governor for the American Red Cross,
and is a member of the Belizean Grove.
Siri S. Marshall
is a member of the Belizean Grove,
and a director at Equifax Inc.
Lurita Alexis
Doan is a member of the Belizean
Grove, and was an administrator for the General Services Administration.
General
Services Administration is a member, info tech committee for the Critical Infrastructure Partnership
Advisory Council.
Equifax Inc. is a member, info tech
committee for the Critical Infrastructure
Partnership Advisory Council.
Google Inc. is a member,
info tech committee for the Critical
Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council.
Akin,
Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP is the lobby firm for Google Inc., was the lobby firm for the
America's Health Insurance Plans, Visa U.S.A. Inc., and Equifax Inc.
James Roosevelt
Jr. is a director at the America's
Health Insurance Plans, and was an associate commissioner for the Social Security Administration.
Thomas E. Donilon
is a friend of David M. Rubenstein,
a partner at O'Melveny & Myers LLP,
was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), a director at the American Friends
of Bilderberg (think tank), and a 2008 Bilderberg conference
participant (think tank).
Ronald A. Klain
was a partner at O'Melveny & Myers
LLP, and is the president of Case
Holdings.
Hollister K.
Petraeus is an investor in Case
Holdings, married to David H.
Petraeus, and helped establish the Consumer
Financial Protection Bureau.
David H. Petraeus
is married to Hollister K. Petraeus,
and the KKR Global Institute chairman for KKR
& Co. LP.
Edwin L. Artzt was
a senior adviser for KKR & Co. LP,
and a director at the American Express
Company.
Harvey
Golub was a chairman & CEO for the American
Express Company, and a director at the Campbell
Soup Company.
Denise M. Morrison
is the president & CEO for the Campbell
Soup Company, and Mary Agnes
Wilderotter’s sister.
Mary Agnes
Wilderotter is Denise M. Morrison’s
sister, a member of the Belizean Grove,
and a trustee at the Committee for
Economic Development.
Siri S. Marshall
is a member of the Belizean Grove,
and a director at Equifax Inc.
Belizean_Grove
is the equivalent to the male-only social group, the Bohemian Club.
Henrietta
Holsman Fore is a member of the Belizean
Grove, and a trustee at the Committee
for Economic Development.
Julie
Daum is a member of the Belizean
Grove, and was a trustee at the Committee
for Economic Development.
Davia B. Temin is
a member of the Belizean Grove, and
was a trustee at the Committee for
Economic Development.
Marion C. Blakey
is a member of the Belizean Grove, was
a chairman for the National
Transportation Safety Board, and an administrator for the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration.
Merit E. Janow is
a member of the Belizean Grove, and
a director at MasterCard Incorporated.
National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration is a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
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