Last week, credit reporting agency Equifax announced that hackers had gained access to private data of 143 million American consumers. It is one of the largest data breaches and risks to personally sensitive information in recent years.
Unfortunately, Equifax’s response has been one blunder after another.When the leak was announced, Equifax created a free help site that allows consumers to check if their information has been exposed. Initially, reports suggested that accessing the help site prohibited users from taking part in any legal action down the line, though Equifax eventually backtracked on that.
Then there’s the fact that Equifax has placed the burden on its customers to access the site, rather than informing customers about whether or not their information has been compromised. The help site isn’t even available to consumers in the U.K. and Canada, who also were likely affected.
On top of all of that, new reports suggest that the help site doesn’t actually work in the first place. Some users are reporting that they are getting different answers when entering their information multiple times. Others are reporting that they have tried inputting false information and are getting results.
The 143 million people whose information has been compromised are right to be worried about their privacy. Equifax should be working to make this right with its customers instead of trying to screw them over again and again.
Please sign this petition demanding that Equifax identify and inform all customers who were impacted by this massive data breach. 