- Data Breaches Are Out of Your Control
What You Need to Know
No matter how carefully you guard your personal information, you remain vulnerable to the security practices of the companies, institutions, and government agencies that collect and store it. In 2024, data breaches surged to over 12,000 incidents—a 34% increase from the previous year—affecting more than 1.35 billion people globally. One of the most troubling examples is Verisource Services, a major provider of HR outsourcing and benefits administration, which took over a year to complete a digital forensic investigation following a February 2024 breach. Initially, the company alerted only 55,000 individuals. By April 2025, they admitted that nearly 4 million people had been affected, with Social Security numbers among the compromised data. This kind of delayed and inadequate response leaves victims exposed to a higher risk of identity theft, financial fraud, and further exploitation. And sadly, these types of slow-moving disclosures are not unusual.
What You Should Do
While you can’t control how companies manage your data, you can reduce your exposure and make it harder for thieves to use stolen information. Start by refusing to give out your Social Security number unless it is absolutely necessary—medical offices, for example, often ask for it, but rarely need it. Next, freeze your credit with all three major credit bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian). It’s free, takes only a few minutes, and prevents new accounts from being opened in your name—even if someone has your full identity profile. Monitor your credit reports weekly using the official site AnnualCreditReport.com, which now offers free access from all three bureaus.
Stay alert for suspicious activity by regularly reviewing your bank and credit card statements. If you want to know whether your email address or personal info has appeared in known data breaches, use HaveIBeenPwned.com. Be cautious of emails or phone calls claiming to help with a data breach—scammers often use these events as cover to collect even more personal information. Never click on unexpected links or download attachments unless you’ve verified the source. And under no circumstances should you share sensitive information in response to a phone call, text, or email without confirming its legitimacy through a trusted, official channel.
Would you know if your Social Security number was floating on the dark web right now?
Think you are being scammed? Call our scam hotline or email us for help:
(801)-724-6211
scamwatch@invisus.com
