Dear Black Bag Confidential Reader,
The statistics on cybercrime are staggering…
- One out of every 131 emails contains malware — over 230,000 new malware samples are produced daily
- Ransomware attacks increased by 36% in 2017 — at least 4,000 occur every day
- Last year alone identity fraud cost hardworking Americans over $16 billion — that number is only expected to increase
- Over 75% of people claim to know the risks associated with clicking unknown links in emails — yet they still click on them.
Here’s another worrisome fact: It takes most businesses over six months to detect a data breach.
Cyberattacks are so common I didn’t have to look very hard to find countless articles detailing several hacks and breaches perpetrated over the last week.
Below are some of the biggest infractions, plus several ways you can protect your information whether or not it has been compromised.
Take a look.
1. Saks, Lord & Taylor Hit by Payment Card Data Breach
Notorious cybercriminal group JokerStash has plans to expose the credit card information of over 5 million retail customers. Most of the 125,000 payment cards released so far appear to have been stolen from Saks and Lord & Taylor stores. It’s not yet clear what other stores may have been affected.
There’s no evidence that credit cards used online were compromised. If you didn’t physically visit a brick-and-mortar location, your information is probably safe.
That being said, data breaches are becoming such a common occurrence, it is up to you to do everything you can to protect yourself. This includes (but is not limited to) putting a freeze on your credit and monitoring your statements each month to ensure there are no fraudulent charges.
2. Data Breaches Strike CareFirst and Under Armour
Last week, Under Armour, a Baltimore-based sportswear company, and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Maryland’s largest health insurer, were also hit by cyberattacks.
Under Armour revealed that information on 150 million users of its nutrition app MyFitnessPal was stolen — more than last year’s Equifax hack. CareFirst reported that personal information on nearly 7,000 members was exposed by an email phishing scheme — including names, member identification numbers and dates of birth.
On Sunday, the same day Under Armour discovered the MyFitnessPal breach, a ransomware attack shut down the city of Baltimore’s automated 911 dispatch system.
My point is we live in a digital age and no business or organization is safe — even a fitness app is a target for hackers. This is why it’s absolutely critical that every password you have for every website or app is different.
3. Orbitz Hack: How to Protect Yourself After the Breach
Add travel website Orbitz to the ever-growing list of corporate hacking victims. This time, payment information from over 880,000 customers who used the site in 2016 and 2017 was hacked.
According to Consumer Reports, “The data stolen probably included names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses as well as other personal information, the company said, though Social Security information was not taken.”
Details about this attack are still forthcoming. In the meantime, be proactive about your cybersecurity. This article lists five steps you can take to protect your personal information if you are contacted by Orbitz.
4. More Than 31 Million People Will Get Their Credit Cards Hacked This Year
Cyberthieves have become so sophisticated they no longer need to pick your pocket to hack the credit cards in your wallet. They don’t need to infect your device with malware, trick you through social engineering or send a phishing email either.
The fact is criminals have figured out a way to get your name, credit card number, expiration date and security code in a split second just by walking by you in a crowd.
Fortunately, there’s a simple product out there that will not only protect your information but put your mind at ease. I believe this product should be in the hands (and wallets) of every person in America.
Click on the link above and I’ll reveal precisely what this product is. Plus, I’ll give you the details on an exclusive deal I’ve worked out so you can get one for yourself — for just the cost of shipping.
5. CNBC: Equifax Sends Erroneous Notification Letters to Hack Victims
Last year’s Equifax hack was the fifth-largest data breach to date. Over 145 million Americans were affected. For many victims, the hassle is still not over…
A CNBC investigation uncovered that Equifax has been sending letters to its customers offering free credit monitoring. However, these letters appear to contain incorrect personal information.
The Atlanta Business Chronicle notes that “Equifax declined to tell CNBC exactly how many wrong letters were sent out. However, CNBC reported that Equifax stressed the notification letters ‘did not contain any credit data or other sensitive information.’”
That being said, when it comes to sensitive personal data, you shouldn’t take any chances. Put a freeze on your credit, check your monthly statements, use unique passwords for each website you visit and NEVER open any suspicious emails or click on questionable links.
Your privacy is in your hands.
Stay safe,
Jason Hanson
