Equifax (EFX) is one of the leaders in facilitating and securing commerce by bringing buyers and sellers together world-wide through information, transaction processing and Internet businesses. Global operations include consumer and commercial credit information services, credit card marketing and processing services, check guarantee and authorization, software, modeling, database management, marketing solutions, analytics, direct to consumer services, and Internet identity verification and digital certificate services.
We have seen a variety of data breach scandals over the past few years at retail giants such as Target and Home Depot. But now we have a breach of such potentially damaging consequences that the irony is too thick to be funny. Equifax, one of the main credit reporting agencies, was hacked and almost 50% of its database (which means @143 million people) was exposed.
This is the worst sort of breach, because the firm holds complete dossiers on millions of people. A hacker’s dream, this data contains much more than just an email address or a credit card number. This data includes names, dates of birth, social security numbers, past addresses, etc. This sort of information is not easily changed. It will be a valid means for identity theft for years to come.
