How To Protect Yourself From A Data Breach

A big thank you to LifeLock for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions and ideas are my own.

I’m getting ready to gear up for another round of DIY projects this season. With the holidays quickly approaching, I’m getting the pre-holiday DIY itch. I’ve been pinning like a mad woman trying to gather ideas and inspiration. My plan is to redo our kitchen/dining area before Thanksgiving arrives. It’s certainly doable, but with our crazy schedules it certainly won’t be easy.

At the same time I’m not overly concerned with our time restraints because our family seems to thrive under pressure. In fact, some of our best DIY projects have occurred during our busiest seasons. Remember this dresser? This awesome makeover happened while we were expecting and in the process of moving.

We typically shop at various places for our DIY tools and project needs. Home Depot has always been one of them, but the recent security breach they experienced has us more cautious than ever.

In case you didn’t hear, Home Depot was affected by a security breach that has potentially affected an estimated 56 million cards! We have been victims of credit card fraud in the past and trust me it’s not fun spending hours on the phone with your credit card company trying to convince them that someone else is using your credit card number fraudulently. When news of a potential Home Depot breach was released, the LifeLock Site shared these great tips that everyone can benefit from:

How To Protect Yourself From A Data Breach

Monitor your transactions:

Make sure you keep an eye on the activity on your credit and debit card accounts, looking for any charges that don’t seem to be yours. I do this by logging on to my accounts online everyday, so there’s no need to wait for a statement to arrive in the mail.

Report suspicious transactions immediately:

If you see a card transaction—even a small one—that doesn’t look right, contact the card issuer immediately. The phone number is on the back of your card. Don’t wait until you see another transaction or it might be too late!

Order a new debit card:

If you believe your debit card number was compromised, don’t wait for fraudulent charges to start appearing on your statement. Request a new card from your bank. This way, you reduce the chances of a criminal depleting your bank account, and you avoid potential challenges in recovering your funds. Credit cards offer more protection and less risk because funds are not directly withdrawn from your bank account as they are with a debit card.

Follow the story:

Investigation of this crime is still under way. Watch for news and communication from Home Depot. You can typically find updates and news on the store’s website.

Consider using an identity protection service:

LifeLock provides identity protection products and services you can count on. In fact, LifeLock Advantage™ and LifeLock Ultimate Plus™, can help you detect fraudulent activity with alerts for cash withdrawals, balance transfers and large purchases within their extensive network.

With data breaches occurring more frequently these days, having identity protection is one of the best investments that anyone can make. The great news is that products and services like LifeLock’s, can offer the protection needed to help in these types of situations. It’s a small investment in exchange for a piece of mind.

To sign up and receive 10% off LifeLock products go to the LifeLock site and enter promo code BreachWatch. They have various packages to fit all needs and budgets.