Another day, another breach. How did the SunTrust data breach happen? And what can you do to protect your data?
Suntrust Data Breach
The Atlanta-based bank said that there was a data breach attempt on their systems. In their report, an ex-employee tried to steal the information of about 1.5 million clients. It also stated that the criminal wanted to share it with a criminal third party.
Potentially Stolen Data
Moreover, the potentially exposed data included:
- names
- addresses
- phone numbers
- account balances
Suntrust said that the stolen data did not include sensitive information, such as:
- social security numbers
- account numbers
- PINs
- user IDs
- passwords
- driver’s licenses
Furthermore, Suntrust refused to give the branch location of the breach. They also did not give the criminal’s identity.
However, the bank reported that there is no evidence of fraudulent activity involving the data. They also said that the stolen information is still with the bank.
Suntrust Data Breach: Their actions
The bank said that they are informing their clients about the potential breach.
Also, they announced that they now offer Identity Protection to their clients for free.
It is in addition to the protocols of the bank, which includes:
- monitoring of accounts
- alerts of fraud
- FICO score program
- Experian IDnotify
Furthermore, they said that they’re working with experts and law enforcement.
Suntrust Data Breach: The impact
Suntrust said that it did not affect their earnings. But, their shares fell to 0.5% to $66.69.
Also, most clients are now afraid because their information was exposed.
‘Not a breach,’ they say
Rogers, the CEO of the bank, said that the incident is still under investigation. However, he said this was not a data breach. Just an attempt, they said.
Also, he admitted that the ex-employee was not allowed to access the information. But still, no evidence that it was sold in the black market.
‘Was my personal information stolen?’ you may ask
Are you a Suntrust member? Well, here’s what you can do.
- Log on to Suntrust’s website.
- Enter the following information: full name, zip code, and last four digits of Social Security number
- Read the news and updates.
Protect yourself
Here are some tips to prevent breaches.
- Avoid logging in to your important accounts when using public internet connections. Especially at airports, schools, and coffee shops.
- Consider using a VPN for extra protection.
- Do not click “remember your computer” when logging into your bank account. It will bypass the security questions. And it will be easier for hackers.
- Monitor your computer and credit accounts. You’ll know if there are unusual traffic.
- Temporary freeze your credit. If you do this, no one can take out loans under your name. Also, they won’t get access to your money.
- Use identity theft monitoring services. It will secure your social security number and credit. Then, you will know if your data is being sold on the dark web.
- Use a password manager. Make sure that your passwords are unique and strong. It will shoo away the bad guys to your online accounts. So, do not reuse your passwords. You can use a password manager that will create and store your information.
