By now, we are all too familiar with the shocking facts of the Equifax data breach, in which thieves were able to steal the Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and other sensitive information for a mind-boggling 145.5 million Americans. This means half of the US population and nearly three-quarters of the consumers with active credit reports are now at risk of identity theft due to one of the worst – if not the worst – breaches of consumer data in American history. These Americans are at risk of having false new credit accounts, phony tax returns, and even spurious medical bills incurred in their good names.
We know about Equifax’s incompetent failure to install a simple cybersecurity patch that led to the massive hack.