3 weeks ago one of the big 3 credit info agencies got hacked: up to half US adults at risk

We've gotten jaded about financial and government institution data hacks. But this one could be personal.

Post Equifax credit hack: how to freeze credit reporting effectively so no one can apply for credit under your name and take the money and run.There are only three major credit bureaus used for credit applications. Most credit applications are run thru at least one of the 3 bureaus.

You have to perform the freeze at each of them. State law sets the max the bureaus can charge for freezing or unfreezing your credit info. In CA it's $10. Equifax will freeze for free because they already gave away your confidential info to hackers. No doubt they'll charge for unfreezing, but I didn't check.

Transunion and Experian have similar online procedures and the same fees.

You wouldn't do this if you're about to apply for credit, because you might have to wait a business day or three to get unfrozen and pay ten bucks to each of the three bureaus.

https://www.freeze.equifax.com

https://freeze.transunion.com/sf/securityFreeze/landingPage.jsp

https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html

Len Raphael, CPA