Your Social Security number may have been exposed in a recent data breach. Here’s how to freeze your credit score

Unfortunately, data breaches are becoming more and more common. When a company’s data is accessed due to a security breach, your private information is at risk. Recently, National Public Data, a company that performs background checks, suffered a data breach. Nearly three billion records, including social security numbers and other personal information, were affected.

If your information was exposed in the breach, there may be a risk that your sensitive data could be used for fraudulent purposes. One example of this is someone opening a credit card in your name without your permission.

The good news is that freezing your credit can provide some protection. I’ll explain how to freeze your credit with all three credit bureaus.

What does it mean to freeze your credit?

When you freeze your credit, it prevents the credit bureaus from sharing your credit report with creditors. This means that once you freeze your credit, no one can access your credit report or open a new line of credit without your permission.

If you would like to apply for a new credit card or Personal loanyou must first lift your credit freeze. By freezing your credit, you can protect yourself from fraudsters who might use your personal information to open new accounts under your identity. This can help reduce cases of identity theft.

You must block your credit with each credit bureau

The easiest way to freeze your credit is online through the credit bureau’s website. While freezing your credit is a simple process, it does take some time – especially the first time. This is because you have to have your credit blocked individually by each of the three credit agencies.

This means that locking and unlocking your credit in the future will be free and quick after you set up an online account with each of the three bureaus. You can also have each credit bureau do this over the phone if you prefer.

Here are the steps you need to take for each office.

Equifax

First, you need to create a free account. Then follow these steps:

1. Sign in to your Equifax account.
2. In the left menu bar, under “Your Identity,” select “Freeze.”
3. Select “Set up a lock” to start locking your credit.
4. Once suspended, you can use the Manage Suspension option to temporarily or permanently unsuspend your account.

Alternatively, you can contact Equifax by phone at 1-888-298-0045 to have your credit account frozen. You will be asked a few questions to verify your identity.

Experian

First, you need to create a free account. Then follow these steps:

1. Sign in to your Experian account.
2. Move the mouse pointer over “Credits” in the top menu bar.
3. Click on “CreditLock”.
4. You’ll be presented with information about Experian’s paid CreditLock service, but if you scroll to the bottom of the page, you can freeze your credit for free by clicking on “Manage Security Lock.”
5. You can select “Freeze” or “Unfreeze” to freeze or unfreeze your credit account.

If you prefer, you can call Experian at 1-888-397-3742 to lock your account. You will be asked to provide some personal information to verify your identity.

TransUnion

First, you need to create a free account. Then follow these steps:

1. Sign in to your TransUnion account by clicking Sign In under Service Center.
2. Click on “Credit Freeze” in the top menu bar.
3. Select Add Hold to begin holding your credit.
4. Once suspended, you can use the Manage Suspension option to temporarily or permanently unsuspend your account.

Alternatively, you can contact TransUnion by phone at 1-800-916-8800 to have your credit account frozen. You will need to verify your identity over the phone.

Note: TransUnion is currently experiencing widespread login issues. I’ve had trouble logging back into my account and have seen many others share similar experiences on social media. If you’re having trouble logging back into your account, you can call TransUnion to freeze or release your funds.

Protect your identity and your finances

Now more than ever, it is important to take steps to protect your identity. Even if you decide to place a credit freeze, it’s still a good idea to check your credit reports regularly. You can get a free copy of your credit report from any credit bureau at AnnualCreditReport.com. Free weekly reports are available to all consumers.

If you notice anything unusual or errors in your report, file a complaint with the credit bureau. By being extra cautious and watching for signs of identity theft, you can better protect your personal information and finances.