In this bonus episode of Planet Money, Kenny Malone and Amanda Aronczyk dive into how to safeguard your personal information after a data breach. They break down the advice found in data breach notification letters, assessing its effectiveness. Key recommendations include getting a free credit report, signing up for credit and identity monitoring services (with a careful read of the fine print), reaching out to the FTC, placing a fraud alert, and setting up a credit freeze. They also explore additional protective strategies like using a password manager, enabling two-factor authentication, regularly reviewing bank and credit card statements, and taking advantage of the NPR Delete Me service. The episode emphasizes the need for proactive measures to protect personal data in an era where data breaches are becoming more frequent.
