If your personal or financial information has not yet been compromised by a data breach, count yourself lucky. In 2022, Statista reports there were 1,800 data breaches reported in the United States, everywhere from Twitter to Uber to the credit reporting agency Experian.

If you receive a notification that your personal and/or financial information has been compromised, here are some steps you can take to protect yourself.

Change your passwords.

And while you’re at it, make sure you’re not using the same passwords for more than one login. That’s easier said than done when the average person has dozens of logins to manage, so consider using a password manager like 1Password or Dashlane. These applications will not only remember your login information at every site, they’ll make it easy to choose a unique, hard-to-crack password any time you create an account.

But don’t get overconfident—even the password manager LastPass experienced a data breach in 2022—that’s how common data breaches are.)

Set up multi-factor authentication—especially for that password manager you probably just started using.

Multi-factor authentication enables you to add an extra layer of protection between your password and your data. After your login information has been correctly entered, with MFA, you’ll automatically receive a phone call or a text message asking you to confirm that you’re the person attempting to access your account, along with a one-time code you can use to prove you’re really you.

Take advantage of any free credit monitoring or identity theft protection services you are offered by the organization that was breached.

Most companies will offer these services as compensation for the inconvenience they have caused you.

Consider adding a verbal PIN or passphrase to your financial accounts.

If identity thieves acquire enough of your personal information, it’s possible that they can assume control of your checking and savings accounts by contacting your financial institution and pretending to be you. One way to protect yourself at Vibrant—call us and set up a verbal PIN or passphrase we’ll ask you to provide every time you call. Scammers won’t know you have one unless they call – and it’s much more difficult to crack a password on the phone.

Consider setting up a credit freeze.

You can place a credit freeze on your credit report, preventing any lender or retailer from pulling your credit as part of a credit application.

If you’re not actively in the market for a loan or credit card, then setting up a security freeze on your credit report is an effective way to keep identity thieves from signing up for credit cards of their own. If you later need to apply for credit, you can remove the security freeze either temporarily or permanently.

The process is simple, free and can be completed online, via phone, or through the mail. Make sure to contact all three main credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) to ensure you’re completely protected. Get complete instructions on setting up a credit freeze from USA.gov.

Watch your bank and credit card accounts for suspicious transactions.

If you see a transaction that doesn’t look familiar, contact your financial institution immediately to file a dispute. If your card has been compromised, your financial institution can issue you a new number and close the old account.

Check your credit report regularly to make sure no one is taking out credit in your name.

If you’ve signed up for online banking with Vibrant, it’s easy to keep an eye on your credit report. Log in, go to the TOOLS menu, and choose CREDIT TRACKER. You’ll receive an alert any time your credit report updates—from decreases in your available credit to new accounts added.

Consider investing in identity theft insurance.

Many homeowners and renters policies include optional identity theft protection that can cost as little as $15 a year. This coverage can provide compensation for attorneys’ fees, lost wages if you need to take time away from work to rectify the damage, and for administrative costs including certified mail, long-distance calls, or notary fees. Talk to our partners at Vibrant Insurance Group to find identity theft coverage that fits your needs.

Feeling overwhelmed? Get expert advice from IdentityTheft.gov.

This free program from the Federal Trade Commission will walk you through everything you need to do in the event of a data breach or documented case of identity theft (e.g., you have found a fraudulent charge on your credit card).