Justice Dept. charges four members of Chinese military in connection with 2017 hack at Equifax

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Washington Post




The Justice Department has charged four members of the Chinese military with the 2017 hack at the credit reporting agency Equifax, a massive data breach that compromised the personal information of nearly half of all Americans.

In a nine-count indictment filed in federal court in Atlanta, federal prosecutors alleged that four members of the People’s Liberation Army hacked into Equifax’s systems, stealing the personal data as well as company trade secrets. In a statement announcing the case, Attorney General William P. Barr called their efforts “a deliberate and sweeping instrusion into the private information of the American people.”

The 2017 breach gave hackers access to the personal information, including Social Security numbers and birth dates, of about 145 million people. Equifax last year agreed to a $700 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission to compensate victims. Those affected can ask for free credit monitoring or, if they already have such a service, a cash payout of up to $125, though the FTC has warned a large volume of requesters could reduce that amount.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/justice-dept-charges-four-members-of-chinese-military-in-connection-with-2017-hack-at-equifax/2020/02/10/07a1f7be-4c13-11ea-bf44-f5043eb3918a_story.html

[hedda_foil]

1. kick and rec!!

[LittleGirl]

2. No payout

Unless you already had monitoring services set up. That was our understanding.

Also, people worry about Facebook when Equifax has your name, addresses, social security numbers, age, place of birth etc. Facebook may have facial recognition but Equifax has everything else.

And Equifax didn’t notify the media for Months about the breach! Months! So we’re all fucked anyway.

[groundloop]

3. I have to wonder what China will do with my personal information

I was one of those affected by that breach and have had my credit on lock-down since I was notified. I can certainly believe that China had the resources to commit such a hack, but don't quite grasp what they'd do with the information. Is China so desperate for cash they they're opening credit card accounts to pay for their military?

[Sanity Claws]

4. I wouldn't be surprised if it were used to snoop on their own nationals

China keeps a lot of information on its nationals, including those living abroad.

[groundloop]

6. Ahhhhh.... that makes more sense than anything I thought of

[Lulu KC]

5. I have wondered the same

Also, had to unlock the freeze recently and wow--was it hard? I had the PIN code etc. but it was truly amazing.

[They_Live]

7. You can always trust Barr.

Always believe everything he says.



added just in case....