Chances are you’ve heard of Equifax, one of the nation’s three major credit reporting agencies. And if you’ve been paying attention to the news lately, you probably know about the data breach the company sustained from mid-May through July. What might not be so certain, however, is what that means to you.

Equifax houses a wealth of sensitive personal information, which means the chance of you being affected by the hack might be better than you think. Keep calm, and read our list of things to know below.

Facts First: An Equifax Data Breach Q & A Session

How many people were affected?

Up to 143 Million.

Was I one of them?

Here are a few steps to check:

  • Visit www.equifaxsecurity2017.com
  • Click on the “Potential Impact” tab near the bottom of the page
  • Make sure you’re on a secure computer
  • Enter your last name and the last six digits of your Social Security number
  • Click on the “Continue” tab

The site will tell you if you may have been affected.

What information was compromised?

Hackers illegally accessed names, birth dates, Social Security numbers, addresses, and documents with personal identifying information. They also stole the credit card numbers of some 209,000 people.

What now?

Take measures to protect yourself:

  • Keep a close eye on your current financial accounts

You’ll want to be on the lookout for charges you don’t recognize. Placing a fraud alert on your account is a great way to do this.

While it won’t prevent fraudulent charges to your existing accounts, a freeze will make it more difficult for a thief to open a new account in your name.

  • Check your credit reports

Go to www.annualcreditreport.com to review your activity. If there are any alarming items, you’ll want to visit www.identitytheft.gov to find out your next steps.

Know-How from People Who Care in Fair Lawn, NJ

At Jack Daniels Volkswagen, we know your identity is important. We also know that having a good credit score is integral in getting approved for a higher car loan amount.

Watch the video below for more advice on how to stay ahead of hackers.