The worst thing to do after a data breach [Video]

When you get an email or see a headline telling you there has been a data breach at a company you do business with, the natural instinct may be to roll your eyes and go about your day.

In the first half of 2024, more than a billion people saw their information leaked online as the result of a data breach, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center — a nearly 500% increase from the same period in 2023.

So if you feel like recent high-profile breaches at Ticketmaster and AT&T are drops in a very large bucket, no one would blame you. In fact, cybersecurity experts have a name for it: “breach fatigue.”

“People might say, ‘Oh, here’s another one and stick it in the drawer and don’t do anything,'” says Michael Bruemmer, head of global data breach resolution at Experian. “That’s the worst thing you can do.”

Following a breach, depending on which information was compromised, you may find yourself on the receiving end of targeted scams …