Protect Your Identity Now: Essential Steps if Your Data Is Stolen or Exposed. The Ultimate Guide to Identity Theft, Data Privacy, and Online Safety

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Identity Theft

Identity theft can disrupt your financial stability and personal security in an instant. Our guides provide clear, state-specific steps to report, recover, and protect your identity, so you can take control again.

Data Privacy

Your personal data is valuable — don’t let it be exposed or misused. From removing information from data brokers to understanding your digital rights, we give you practical tools to protect your privacy online. To do a quick check, click here.

Online Harassment

Harassment in the digital world is real and damaging. We show you how to document evidence, understand your legal options, and take effective steps to safeguard yourself against online threats.

Yahoo Data Breaches 2013–2014

Date: 2013–2014 (disclosed 2016)

Summary: One of the largest data breaches in history. Yahoo disclosed multiple breaches that together affected billions of accounts. Attackers accessed user names, email addresses, dates of birth, hashed passwords, and security questions/answers.

Impact: 3 billion accounts compromised (combined incidents). Massive reputational damage and legal fallout; impact on Yahoo’s valuation and acquisition.

Lesson / What to do: If your account was affected, immediately change passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and check for reuse of credentials on other services.

Marriott / Starwood Guest Reservation Breach 2014–2018

Date: 2014–2018 (disclosed 2018)

Summary: Attackers gained unauthorized access to the Starwood guest reservation database (later Marriott-owned) and stole a large volume of guest information including names, mailing addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, passport numbers, and encrypted payment card data.

Impact: ~500 million guest records exposed. Significant regulatory scrutiny, fines, and worldwide customer notification requirements.

Lesson / What to do: Monitor bank and card statements for unusual charges, consider replacing compromised travel documents (passports), and enable alerts with your credit provider.

Adult Friend Finder Network Breach 2016

Date: 2016 (disclosed 2016–2018)

Summary: AdultFriendFinder and several affiliated sites were breached; user records, plain-text and hashed passwords, emails, and profile data were dumped online. Given the sensitive nature of the service, exposure carried high personal risk for users.

Impact: ~412 million accounts reportedly exposed. High personal/privacy stakes for victims, plus long-term reputational and emotional consequences.

Lesson / What to do: If you use niche or sensitive services, never reuse credentials, remove unnecessary personal details from profiles, and consider identity monitoring if exposed.

Equifax Data Breach 2017

Date: 2017 (disclosed Sept 2017)

Summary: Attackers exploited a web application vulnerability to access sensitive files at Equifax, one of the major credit bureaus. Exposed data included names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and some driver’s license numbers.

Impact: ~147 million people impacted (U.S.-centric). Massive regulatory investigations, settlements, and a renewed push for stronger consumer credit protections.

Lesson / What to do: Freeze your credit reports with major bureaus, place fraud alerts, and monitor credit reports frequently through official channels.

LinkedIn Data Leak 2012

Date: 2012 (large dataset reposted/combined in later years)

Summary: A breach where millions of LinkedIn email/password pairs were stolen; later large aggregations of these credentials resurfaced online. Attackers targeted professional contact databases and credentials.

Impact: ~100–170 million users affected across various disclosures and dumps. Credentials were often reused, enabling credential-stuffing attacks on other services.

Lesson / What to do: Use unique strong passwords per account, enable two-factor authentication, and check whether your email/password combos appear in breach databases like Have I Been Pwned.

What should I do first if my identity is stolen?

Start by placing a fraud alert with the credit bureaus and securing your accounts. Then, file an official report at IdentityTheft.gov // For a full step-by-step guide, read our complete article “What To Do If Your Identity Is Stolen”.

How do I freeze my credit report?

You can freeze your credit report for free by contacting the three major credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Each bureau lets you request a freeze online, by phone, or by mail. // For full step-by-step instructions, check our detailed guide “How to Freeze Your Credit Report”.

Do I need a lawyer for identity theft cases?

In most cases, you don’t need a lawyer to start recovering from identity theft — official agencies like IdentityTheft.gov give you free step-by-step plans. However, if your case involves serious financial losses, lawsuits, or criminal charges in your name, having a lawyer can help protect your rights and speed up resolution. // For more details, check our full guide “Do You Need a Lawyer for Identity Theft Cases?”.

How can I remove my personal data from the internet?

Start by searching your name in Google, deleting old accounts, and requesting removal from data broker sites. You can also submit removal requests to Google for certain results. // For detailed steps and resources, see our full guide “How to Remove Your Personal Data from the Internet”.