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Equifax says data for 143 million Americans exposed. Your questions, answered
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The company said criminals stole Social Security numbers and sensitive information for nearly 143 million Americans, according to the Associated Press. - photo by Herb Scribner
Equifax, one of the major credit monitoring companies in the nation, said on Thursday that much of its data was exposed, leaving about 143 million Americans vulnerable to identity fraud.

The company said criminals stole Social Security numbers and sensitive information for nearly 143 million Americans, according to the Associated Press.

All of this information could be used to steal information and identity from Americans.

"On a scale of one to 10, this is a 10 in terms of potential identity theft," said Gartner security analyst Avivah Litan, according to the AP. "Credit bureaus keep so much data about us that affects almost everything we do."

Weve collected some helpful information about the hack to explain things a little easier. Heres a quick breakdown.

Was I hacked?: Here's how to find out: Equifax recommends you sign up for TrustedID Premier, which will tell you whether or not youve been hacked.

Head to www.equifaxsecurity2017.com and click on the Check Potential Impact tab to see if youve been hacked. Youll have to enter in the final six digits of your Social Security number.

Really?: Yes. But this decision drew criticism from experts, who said the company shouldnt be asking for more Social Security information to see if youve been hacked.

What if I dont use Equifax?: Equifax probably still has information on you, according to CNN Money. The service tracks financial history of U.S. consumers (even if you didnt know it), using information from banks, retailers and lenders.

So what was hacked?: Information exposed included Social Security numbers, home addresses, birth dates and even some drivers license numbers. According to Toms Guide, about 209,000 peoples credit card numbers were stolen. And 182,000 people had their personal identity information stolen, too.

Should I call Equifax?: TechCrunch writer Sarah Buhr called Equifax three times to learn more about the hack and the new TrustID service. She said she waited around until the call hung up on her all three times.

What should I do now?: Forbes has a good answer for that. First, you should find out if youve been affected, then begin monitoring your account for potential hacks. Forbes also recommends what to do in case you experience identity theft.

Is anyone upset about this?: The Chicago Tribune reported that users complained about the company for the hack. Consumers also arent happy that they have to give up more sensitive information just to see if theyve been hacked. Customer service representatives said theres not much they can do for consumers, either, the Tribune reported.

Did the company know?: As Bloomberg reported, three senior executives sold shares worth $1.8 million just days before the breach. The company said they hadnt been informed of the incident.

Hows the companys stock?: The company saw a 13.89 percent decrease in shares after the news broke of the jack, MarketWatch reported.

Is there a lawsuit yet?: Bloomberg reported that a class-action law suit seeks to represent the 143 million consumers affected, saying that the company didnt spend enough on protecting data.
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How to avoid 'sharenting' and other paparazzi parenting habits
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A recent study revealed parents often spend up to two hours staging a single photo of his or her child to post online. - photo by Amy Iverson
Before having kids, some people just dont appreciate their friends baby posts. But after having a child of their own, three fourths of new parents jump right on the parental social media bandwagon. If you have become a member of this group, there are some rules to follow for posting responsibly.

Much of a parents worry is how to teach their children to use social media responsibly. We talk with our kids about privacy, oversharing, and setting restrictions on their devices to keep them safe. But parents themselves need to look in the digital mirror once in a while. Before having children, it doesnt take as much effort to think about what to post online. Its up to us to decide what we share about our own lives. But once you become a parent, there are many questions to think about regarding what is appropriate to post about your kids on social media.

In a recent survey, kids clothing subscription company Mac and Mia surveyed 2000 new parents to find out how they are documenting their kids lives on social media, and what concerns they may have.

First of all, people without children seem to feel a bit differently about the onslaught of baby pictures online than those who are parents. 18 percent of people say before they had kids, they were annoyed by their friends baby posts. But after having children of their own, 73 percent admit they post progress pictures of their little ones every single month.

Not only are new parents letting the world know each time their baby is a month older, but they are posting about their kids every few days or so. Men and women report they post 6-7 times per month about their baby.

And while 70 percent of new parents say the benefit of using social media is how easy it is to help family and friends feel involved, there are some downsides. Here are a few tips to avoid the pitfall of becoming paparazzi parents.

Dont miss the moment

In the Mac and Mia survey, some parents admitted to spending up to two hours to get the perfect shot of their baby. That seems a little extreme. New and old parents alike should be careful about spending so much time taking pictures and videos that they dont enjoy the moment. Years ago, I decided to never live an experience through my phone. A study by Linda Henkel, a psychology professor at Fairfield University in Connecticut, found that when people took pictures of objects in an art museum, they didnt remember the objects as well as if they simply observed them.

This photo-taking impairment effect can happen to parents as well. If we are so consumed by getting the perfect photo, we can miss out on the moment all together, and our memory of it will suffer.

Dont forget about privacy

60 percent of couples say they have discussed rules and boundaries for posting their babys photos, according to the Mac and Mia survey. Even so, men are 34 percent more likely to publish baby posts on public accounts. If parents are concerned about their childrens privacy, keeping photos off of public accounts is a given.

In the Washington Post, Stacey Steinberg, a legal skills professor at the University of Florida, and Bahareh Keith, a Portland pediatrician, wrote that sharing too much information about kids online puts them at risk. They write that all that sharenting can make it easier for data thieves to target out kids for identity theft. Check that your privacy settings are where they should be and never share identifying information like full names and birth dates.

Dont be paparazzi parents

36 percent of parents say they take issue when their childs photo is posted online by someone else. Responsible social media users will always ask permission before posting a photo of another child. But parents should also think about whether their own children will take issue with their own posted photos a few years down the road.

When parents are constantly snapping pictures and throwing them on social media, it can be easy to forget to pause and make sure the post is appropriate. I always use the billboard example with my kids. I ask them to picture whatever they are posting going up on a billboard in our neighborhood. If they are okay with that, then their post is probably fine. Parents should ask themselves this same question when posting about their children. But they should also ask themselves if their child would be OK with this post on a billboard in 15 years. If it would cause embarrassment or humiliation, it might be best to keep it private.

Once children reach an appropriate age, parents should include them in the process of deciding what pictures are OK to post. Researchers at the University of Michigan surveyed 10- to 17-year-olds and found children believe their parents should ask permission more than parents think they should. The kids in the survey said sharing happy family moments, or accomplishments in sports, school and hobbies is fine. But when the post is negative (like when a child is disciplined) or embarrassing (think naked baby pictures or messy hair), kids say to keep it off social media.
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