How Incogni can help protect your privacy and overcome data breaches

Imagine waking up one day to an email informing you that your bank account, medical records or email address has been involved in a data breach. Or worse – you’ll notice unauthorized transactions on your credit card. Scenarios like these are becoming more common as cybercriminals find ways to access and exploit personal information stored by companies and online services.

A data breach occurs when hackers or malicious actors steal sensitive information such as passwords, financial information, or personal identification numbers (PINs). The damage caused by a breach can be severe, so knowing what to do – and acting quickly – can limit the damage. There are several ways you can prevent or overcome a data breach, but tools like Incogni can make it harder for your personal data to be misused.

What a data breach might look like

Consider this: John receives a notification from a retail website he uses, informing him that hackers have gained access to customers’ personal information, including names, email addresses, and payment information. Shortly after, he notices suspicious charges on his credit card and receives strange emails urging him to click on unknown links.

This situation shows how quickly things can escalate after a breach. If John doesn’t act quickly, his compromised data could be sold to other criminals through online data brokers, potentially leading to identity theft.

Breach confirmation and identification of compromised data

When you receive notification of a breach or suspect that your data has been exposed, the first step is to confirm the breach.

If the company where you have an account notices a breach, they will usually send an official email or post updates online. Tools like HaveIBeenPwned allow you to check to see if your email or phone number was compromised in a publicized breach.

Red flags to watch for

• Unauthorized transactions or new accounts opened in your name.
• Unexpected password reset requests or login attempts from unknown devices.
• Phishing emails pretending to be from your bank or service providers.

Once you’ve verified a breach, it’s important to understand what kind of data was leaked—whether it was passwords, credit card numbers, medical records, or personally identifiable information (PII). This will help you determine the most appropriate answer.

• Secure compromised accounts: Password recovery for all compromised accounts and related services. Make sure your new passwords are unique and not used across multiple accounts. Use a password manager to create and store secure passwords.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): Enable 2FA on all sensitive accounts. This will prevent hackers from accessing your account even if they have your password.
• Financial activity monitoring: Check recent bank and credit card transactions for unauthorized activity. Set up an alert with your bank to be notified of any suspicious transactions.
• Freeze your credit: To freeze your credit, contact the major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). This will block anyone from opening new accounts in your name.
• Report identity theft if necessary: If criminals use your information to impersonate you, report it to the FTC and contact your local police department if necessary.

Emily’s Instagram account was hacked and the attacker started posting inappropriate content under her name. After discovering the breach, she acted quickly: she reset her password, enabled two-factor authentication, and contacted Instagram’s support team. In addition, she warned friends not to click on any suspicious links from her account.

Emily’s quick response prevented further damage, but this example shows the importance of securing personal accounts and remaining vigilant.

Prevent future breaches and protect your data

While it is impossible to predict or prevent every breach, taking proactive steps will help minimize risks.

Use strong, unique passwords for each account

Password managers like 1Password or Bitwarden can help you generate and manage secure passwords.

Check permissions regularly

Remove access to apps or services you no longer use. These forgotten connections can become vulnerabilities if they are disrupted.

Update your software and enable security patches

Make sure all your devices, apps and browsers are up to date. Outdated software is a common target for hackers.

Beware of phishing scams

Phishing emails and texts are often disguised as urgent security alerts. Please take the time to verify the legitimacy of these messages before clicking on any link.

How Incogni protects your personal information

Even after a breach has been recovered, your data may still be circulating online – especially on the websites of data brokers. Data brokers collect and sell personal data, often making it available to fraudsters, marketers and other third parties.

This is where Incogni comes in. Incogni simplifies the process of removing your personal data from data brokers and people search sites.

Incogni identifies the data processors who are likely to store your personal information (email, phone numbers, social security numbers, etc.). It sends automated requests to these brokers to remove your data from their databases.

Even after your data is deleted, Incogni continues to track brokers and send repeated requests if they collect your information again. The Incogni panel allows users to track which brokers have been contacted and view the status of removal requests.

Protect your loved ones by adding them to your plan. The Family & Friends subscription allows you to cover up to four additional people. By removing your data from broker websites, Incogni helps reduce the risk of identity theft, spam and targeted fraud.

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Act fast and stay proactive to protect your data

A data breach can seem overwhelming, but immediate action is the best way to mitigate the potential damage. Start by securing compromised accounts, freezing your credit and monitoring your financial activity. Proactively protecting your data through services like Incogni adds another layer of defense by keeping your information out of reach of data brokers.

While no one can guarantee complete immunity from future breaches, building good security habits and using tools like Incogni can significantly reduce your risks. Stay vigilant, act fast and take control of your digital footprint to protect your personal information now and in the future.