mrken30

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/0...omers_exposed/

The Bloomberg article is less entertaining

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...lion-customers

It also affected an unknown number of UK customers

There are a lot of questions surrounding this breach. Bloomberg reports that three Equifax senior executives sold shares worth almost $1.8m in the days after the company discovered the breach – but before Thursday’s disclosure.

anotherlimey

Oops.

tom169

I absolutely despise how much of our lives hangs off these unchangeable numbers.

I've recently been pissed off with my employer for sending mine out to a company offering health screening. How I found out was that our username was our SSN!

I hope SSNs are reformed at some stage in my life.

mrken30

I think they should send out checksum numbers every few years like they have on the back of credit cards. Maybe I should patent that idea specifically for SSNs.

Pulaski

But in practice an SSN isn't much use even if you have the linked name - you also have an address and a date of birth. And to some degree you reboot the security of your SSN every time you change your address. I know from experience that my own address history causes lenders to ask questions before granting credit - the extra evidence they ask for is a bit irritating, but might explain why I have never had an identity theft issue.

In almost sixteen years I have had two fraudulent debit card transactions (which haven't been repeated after I canceled my debit card), and one cloned credit card, after making the rookie mistake of using it at an ethnic restaurant - the food was good, great even, but we never went back. I presume others had the same problem because the restaurant folded not long afterwards!

mrken30

Nice little interactive site to see how likely it is that your details have been leaked.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/...kers-quiz.html

mrken30

It just occurred to me, should I be checking my kids credit report somehow? They are not old enough to apply for credit, but does that stop someone using their SSN to apply?

This sort of answers my question. Reading this made me aware that I should not be giving my kids SSN to healthcare providers unless really necessary.

Don’t automatically give your child’s SSN to medical or other service providers. Ask whether insurance information is sufficient or whether you can prove your child’s identity another way.

https://blog.equifax.com/identity/do...credit-report/

tom169

Not sure I believe that given rampant identify fraud in the USA. You're trusting and assuming that every lender has procedures that are followed.

As you know, SSN isn't just a key to lending - medical, drug tests, I-9, to name a few.

carcajou

The Equifax senior executives should at minimum be seriously investigated for insider trading and go to jail if guilty, but that will not happen thanks to Obama Doctrine (if your job title, annual income, or net worth is over a certain threshold, you can commit white-collar crimes with impunity) and Trump is retaining that.

mrken30

There were only 44 million UK records compromised.

Equifax hack: 44 million Britons' personal details feared stolen in major US data breach

Pulaski

Well if the lender lends under a fraudulent application, it is the lender who is out of pocket, so it makes sense for lenders in general to tighted up the review and checking procedures for credit applications. In other words, as a lender, you aren't going to make much money of you are literally giving money to fraudsters.

Unless you are a celebrity I am not sure why anyone would spend even five minutes trying to use your SSN to access your medical records, or other personal data if there is no gain to be made.

mrken30

Someone using your Social Security number could undergo medical treatment, effectively tainting your medical records. Inaccurate medical records could have deadly consequences, if you receive treatment based on a false history. Thieves could also poach your health insurance coverage, which could leave you in a bind when you need it.

Pulaski

So they "could", but do know of this actually happening? I have certainly never read about such a thing, and it sounds to me as being in the realm of speculation about "possible" risks, and not something that should be of huge concern to most people.

I am also not sure, .... no, scrub that, I pretty certain that doctors do not routinely prescribe drugs or treatment based on what is in your medical history without (i) a physical examination and (ii) discussing the history and proposed treatment with the patient.

mrken30

It happens a reasonable amount, usually with poor people or illegals. Probably on the same occurrence rate as people working with stolen social security numbers. Medical expenses are high so there is quite an incentive.

Pulaski

But I am unlikely to ever know if someone stole my SSN and is using it for work. I suspect the same is true if my SSN is used to access medical services, and if someone has treatment for a hernia, knee replacement, and hysterectomy, I am not concerned that it would have any negative consequences for me, because everyone who I deal knows that I am not Florence Vasquez and don't, and have never lived in McAllen, TX.