How the World Works: How dating-site breaches expose more than data

Darnell L Williams

Introduction

You can have as many locks on your doors and windows that you want. Criminals do not come through the doors and windows in your home. They come though your computers, lap tops, and cell phones.

They come through at home, at work, or while you are sitting in the park. They contact your children on their machines, asking questions about you, your family habits, and your comings and goings. Most of these people are not who they say they are. Some live in countries where the criminals cannot be reach by law enforcement.

Let's look at what TransUnion has to say about it.

Even if you’ll never use an online dating site, here’s why recent dating-site data breaches should get your attention.

Dating sites like Adult FriendFinder and Ashley Madison were built with privacy and discretion in mind. But recent breaches of those and other sites’ data security reveal a different reality, one which should frighten not just dating-site users, but everyone who relies on data security.

Heavily guarded information is valuable.

Though it’s unclear whether the recent dating-site hacking was more about money or morality, sensitive personal information—because it’s generally harder to get—can sell for a premium in the black market.

There’s also the danger of extortion. Information exposed from hacked dating sites may not be too valuable in and of itself. But the public release of just a first and last name could be devastating where the names’ owner would strongly prefer to keep those details private. That person may be faced with the choice of having those details go public or paying a fortune to (possibly) keep them private.

It’s often the case that the most valuable information is the information we most desperately want to protect.

Existing data security wasn’t strong enough.

Since consumer data breaches have become more commonplace, businesses collecting consumer data know that security is important. But discreet online dating sites, the federal government and other guardians of particularly sensitive information have an even-bigger interest in keeping that data secure.

Breaches at organizations trying to keep data secure could embolden cybercriminals for a variety of reasons. One motivation is money, but another is notoriety. Some cybercriminals hack into sites to prove their skill to other hackers.

Online dating sites aren’t the only vulnerable sites.

You may have seen on TV that hackers have hacked into the VA Administration, IRS file, and other government agencies. They have hacked into hospital records, local and state personal records such as police files, plus other private records. I suspect that more records have been hacked that the media or others have not told you about.

If it can happen to sites like Ashley Madison and Adult FriendFinder, a data breach can happen to other less-sought-after sites. It’s becoming harder and harder to assume your personal data is safe anywhere.

Despite your best efforts, your personal data may be at risk.

By all means, do everything you can to protect your personal data from thieves. But know that just being responsible—shredding sensitive documents at home, creating a variety of strong online passwords, being cautious on public Wi-Fi, and other smart steps—may not be good enough to prevent your information from slipping into the wrong hands. Should that extremely unfortunate event happen, the real question is, how will you be able to help limit the damage?

You may be what I call a "Broke Bitch" but that will not stop a criminal from opening up store and bank accounts in your name.

Why the right credit protection tools are even more valuable now.

When data breaches expose personal information, thieves can get their hands on it. Criminals buy and sell your information on the Black Market. And if your personal information is exposed by a breach, there’s nothing you can do to avoid that possibility.

Sure, the breached system may get a security update to help prevent another breach. And exposed data could’ve been re-secured without any criminals noticing it was exposed in the first place. But if a breach does happen, you can’t be sure your identity wasn’t stolen until you find out the hard way.

That’s why TransUnion’s built proprietary, next-generation credit protection tools into TransUnion Credit Monitoring. This is what TransUnion gives you. I suspect that the other credit agencies give something similar. You may want to contact them online and find out for yourself.

In addition to 24/7 TU credit report and score access, members get:

· TU Credit Lock: Block all access to your TransUnion Credit Report with just a click or swipe.

· TU Instant Alerts: Get notified the moment the credit union finds out someone’s applying for credit in your name.

· 3-Bureau Monitoring & Alerts: Find out about critical credit changes for ALL 3 national credit bureaus.

Data breaches are exposing some of the most private consumer information out there—simple identity protection steps may not be enough. Stay ahead of this ever-changing threat with TransUnion Credit Monitoring and other credit bureau computer software.