Your personal information is hacked. Now, what? Where do you begin?

Your account. Your information. Your devices.  They’ve been compromised, your personal space violated.  At any rate, past the initial outrage, fear, anger, it is imperative to take control of your situation instantly.

Here’s what you should do:

1. Inform your administrator or service provider.
2. Change your password on all your accounts.  Check your account settings.
3. Scan your device.
4. Update your anti-virus software and applications.
5. Do a backup and make this a practice just in case your device has to be cleaned completely and started from scratch at any point in time.
6. Call all your credit card companies to check if they have been compromised.
7. Replace all cards even if there is a shadow of doubt.
8. Get in touch with your banks.  Verify the security processes are place to access your accounts.  Make changes if needed.
9. Document everything, save all email correspondences and regular US mail correspondences.

The sooner the reaction time, the lesser the damage.   However, the better option is to follow all procedures to safeguard your personal information and/or your company’s information right from start. 

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