Defend Your Data After a Breach
Javelin Strategy & Research notes federal law requires banks to inform customers of breaches. 46 states have laws mandating that other companies do the same, and big firms typically contact all customers regardless of residency, says Brian McGinley, senior vice president at Identity Theft 911, which advises businesses on security. While the tone of such letters and e-mails is often reassuring, don’t be lulled into a false sense of security: just 4% of American adults are victims of ID theft, but for those who have been notified of a breach, the incidence jumps to 17%.
