What you need to know

Another massive breach of personal data has occurred and this time it was Quest Diagnostics, the lab testing company that serves millions of patients across the country. The breach is said to have affected nearly 12 million people and was the result of a hack into a third-party billing company that serves Quest. The crime was discovered on June 6, 2019, and reports have revealed that credit card and other financial information, as well as personal and medical data, were stolen. Here’s what you need to know:

• The vendor that was hacked was American Medical Collection Agency and Quest has suspended their service until an investigation into the source of the hack is complete
• The information stolen is believed to be from the time period of August 1, 2018, through March 30, 2019
• Among the stolen information are social security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and other confidential information
• Lab results were not among the information stolen
• Law enforcement has been notified of the breach as well as federal agencies

What to do if you are a victim

Because Social security numbers, credit card numbers and other highly confidential information was stolen in the Quest hack, it is vital to take precautionary action to protect yourself and your identity including:

• Put a freeze on your credit on all three of the credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax and Transunion, this is free and will ensure that no new accounts are opened in your name
• If you created an account on Quest Diagnostic’s website to check on lab results or to pay for services, change your username and password immediately
• If you paid for testing using a credit or debit card, monitor those accounts closely and alert them that you may have been affected by the breach

Although data breaches seem to occur on a regular basis, it’s important for all of us not to become numb or complacent, because this only increases the damage that can be done.

And, because so much of our lives are conducted online, it’s crucial to be aware and proactive when it comes to your personally identifiable information.

Remember to regularly shred any outdated or unnecessary paperwork that could potentially fall into the wrong hands. This includes old credit card and bank statements, tax returns more than seven years old, ATM receipts and more. Any records that you need to keep long term should be scanned in and keep on a secure drive.

Talk to us at All Points Mobile Shredding to get a quote for a one-time shred or to set up a shredding schedule at your home or office. We serve both residential and commercial clients throughout South Florida and offer onsite shredding as well as a certificate of destruction for each shred.