What you Need to Know About Experian Data Breach of 2015

The Experian data breach of 2015 affected 15 million consumers, especially those who were also T-Mobile customers. Experian claims that the hack only affected T-Mobile customers and information provided when applying for credit with T-Mobile. The information that cybercriminals accessed includes names, addresses, and social security numbers, driver’s license, and passport numbers from credit applications from 2013-2015. Although some of the information was encrypted, because it was stored on the same server, the encryption was also compromised during Experian breach.

When Was the Experian Data Breach?

The Experian data breach was discovered and reported in late 2015 and it affected T-Mobile customers who applied for credit between Sept. 1, 2013, and Sept. 16, 2015. Experian stresses the fact that no payment information or credit information was accessed during this Experian T-Mobile breach. They are also very careful to remind customers that it did not affect any other customers and was strictly isolated to T-Mobile client data. To date, no one has been caught for this crime.

How to Check if Your Data Was Breached

The first thing to do is to perform an Experian data breach check. If you applied for credit with T-Mobile in September of 2013 to September of 2015, you should make sure your information was not affected. You can always use IDStrong to check your own information online to see if your identity has been stolen or used without your permission. Additionally, you can contact Experian or T-Mobile directly to inquire about the breach and how to find out if your information was affected.

What to Do if Your Victim of Experian Breach.

If you were one of the affected parties, you should not take this data breach lightly. The first step is to review your credit reports to look for any suspicious activity. Then you will want to change any information that you can safely. Although banking and credit information was not part of this data breach, personal information that can be used to steal your identity was taken.

Are There Any Lawsuits or Settlements for Experian Breach?

Although there are no Experian lawsuits or Experian data breach settlements available, Experian is offering some complementary services through a partner website. IDStrong offers comprehensive credit monitoring services to keep all your information safe.

Experian has set up a website with questions and answers for customers who are concerned and want to find out more. 

Can My Information from Experian Hack be Used for Identity Theft?

Even the limited amount of information acquired by hackers is enough to steal your identity and open lines of credit in your name or apply for a driver’s license or passport. Identity theft is a serious issue, and you cannot be too careful when protecting yourself. Be warned that T-Mobile nor Experian will ever call you on the phone to request personal Experian account details or information. Never give out your social security number, credit cards, or birth date to anyone you don’t know or in situations where you did not initiate the interaction.

What to Do to Protect Yourself

When it comes to personal information, it seems impossible these days to keep it safe. With so much of life online and data breaches occurring regularly, it can be challenging, but there are things you can do to protect yourself.

• Keep your computer and other devices secure with strong passwords.
• Update your antivirus protection and run scans often.
• Monitor your bank, credit card statements and credit reports regularly.
• Change passwords for logins frequently and use complex combinations of letters, numbers and symbols.  
• Be on the lookout for phishing scams and suspicious emails or calls requesting information.
• Never click on links in emails or download attachments.
• Don’t give out your personal information to anyone unless absolutely necessary. 
• If you are a victim of fraud or identity theft, report it to the authorities immediately.