2.9M Arizonans’ Data Exposed By Equifax: How To Get Cut Of $425M

ARIZONA — About 2.9 million Arizonans’ personal data was exposed in the 2017 Equifax security breach, and now they’re entitled to apply for restitution from the $425 million fund ordered in a settlement agreement reached this week.

The total settlement was $600 million, $175 million that will go to the states affected by the breach. Arizona’s share of that is $3.5 million.

Overall, the breach affected 150 million people in 48 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

“Nearly 3 million Arizonans had their personal information stolen in the Equifax breach, most of whom did not choose to have Equifax compile sensitive personal information about them and sell it to potential credit grantors and other third parties in the first place,” Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich said in a prepared statement.

The breach was one of the largest ever to threaten Americans' private information. The credit reporting company didn't notice the intruders targeting its databases, and they exploited a known security vulnerability that Atlanta-based Equifax failed to patch a vulnerability in its security monitoring system that went undetected for 76 days in 2017.

Social Security numbers, names, dates of birth, addresses, credit card numbers and in some cases, driver's license numbers, were included in the breached data.

A multi-state investigation into what is one of the largest breaches ever of consumer data showed that the sensitive information of an estimated 56 percent of adults was compromised.

These are some of the services Equifax will offer to those affected as part of the restitution plan, according to the settlement:

• Free credit-monitoring services for 10 years to those impacted. Those who already have such a service may apply for a $125 credit.
• Cash payments up to $20,000.
• Seven years of identity-restoration services.

The settlement outlines measures Equifax must take to protect personal data, including weekly security checks and reports as well as studying ways to reduce reliance on Social Security numbers. It must also handle the millions of claims filed by affected customers.

What To Do If Affected By The Equifax Breach

Equifax has a tool so people can check whether they were impacted by the Equifax breach and are eligible for part of the settlement.

Those affected can file a claim with Equifax on the settlement page.

There is also a portal through the Federal Trade Commission dedicated to the Equifax data breach settlement, where the claims page became active Wednesday, July 24.

How To Protect Your Personal Information

For those who have been affected by this breach, there are steps that can help protect your information, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

• Get a free credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling 877-322-8228.
• Call the Equifax Settlement Administrator at 1-833-759-2982.
• Take advantage of any free services being offered as a result of the breach.
• Use two-factor authentication on your online accounts whenever available.
• Consider a credit freeze.

Reported and written by Patch’s Elizabeth Janney; The Associated Press also contributed.