ANOTHER data breach, and this one is HUGE

The latest data breach being reported in the press is nothing short of mind-boggling.

Of all the companies out there, you wouldn't expect Equifax, one of the three credit-reporting bureaus in the United States, to be hit by a massive hack, and boy, is this one a doozy: it's compromised the personal information of a whopping 143 million Americans.

And it gets worse.

Equifax is under fire for waiting six weeks before it notified the public last week. Rather than alerting people who were affected, it set up a website that wasn't available for days.

Equifax offered free credit monitoring -- but to add insult to injury, they initially required those who enrolled to waive their right to sue the company. (It later backtracked, allowing people to sue if they sent it written notice within 30 days.)

The beleaguered company added that credit card numbers for about over 200,000 people were exposed in the breach, as was "personal identifying information" on over 180,000 customers involved in credit report disputes.

Equifax CEO Richard Smith has been called to testify before Congress in October.

Aside from being slapped with a huge fine, I hope the company fires Smith and others at the top who could allow something like this to happen. They should provide free credit monitoring for at least five years, not just one.

I've requested my credit report from Equifax in the past, thinking all along that my personal information was in good hands.

If you can't trust the credit bureaus with protecting your personal data, who can you trust?

This data breach is unprecedented and shameful. Equifax is going to have to work very hard to win back the trust of consumers, and rightfully so. Many customers like myself will be going elsewhere for our credit reporting needs.

What's your take on this scandal? How do you feel Equifax should be penalized?

Comments

This will spell the end of your relationship

When asked to think about the most common culprits for a relationship's going south, most people will point to cheating, complacency, and taking one's partner for granted. While these are all valid -- and documented in various posts on this blog -- there are certain habits on the part of partners that may not kill the relationship right away, but cause it to erode more gradually. Among the most egregious of these is expecting your significant other to be perfect. They pick at your follies any chance they get. Nothing you do is ever good enough. In fact, you will never measure up to an ex, neighbor, or accomplished co-worker. Perhaps this all sounds a bit familiar. When you feel as though you're constantly being put under the microscope, it can inflict lasting damage on the relationship and your self-esteem. You're walking on eggshells all the time, praying you don't say or do something that's going to trigger your partner. This is no way to live, let alone ca

No response from someone IS a response

Make no mistake about it: When you don't get a response from someone -- whether they fail to answer your texts or return your phone calls -- it is still a response, and a powerful one at that. When a person fails to respond, it's a direct reflection of their interest -- or lack thereof -- in the relationship. Few things are more aggravating than having to hound a partner, friend, or relative for some sort of reply after we've reached out to them. Yes, we get busy from time to time, but that doesn't give anyone the right to leave the other person hanging. A terse text with something like "Been busy, will reach out soon" doesn't say much, but at least it shows some effort to bring the other person up to speed on why they've fallen off the radar. Failing to provide a response for weeks -- if not months -- communicates that you are just not a priority, and that you'll have to wait your turn to get this individual's attention. This is n

Misconceptions about quiet people

Earlier today, I came across a Facebook page that features motivational quotes intended to improve people's moods and enhance their overall self-esteem. Interestingly, I noticed two quotes that focus specifically on quiet people: "Be afraid of quiet people; they're the ones who actually think." "The quietest people have the loudest minds." I've observed that most people's views of quiet individuals can fall under one of two categories: 1. The ones who say quiet people are antisocial, suspicious, snobbish, and/or full of themselves. 2. The people who say their introspective nature and propensity to be deep in thought makes them smarter than their more garrulous peers. The quotes above speak to this mindset. As an introvert known to be quiet at work and at social functions where I might not know anyone, I feel I'm well positioned to dispel any inaccuracies surrounding quiet folks. First of all, the above statements misguidedly put

Understand People

Search This Blog