# Equifax data hack **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 8, 2017, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equifax-data-hack/795814 "2017-09-08T13:48:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2017, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equifax-data-hack/795814/21 "2017-09-10T02:30:07Z")
> [@AnalogSignal](#): > > The best protection is to put a freeze on your credit at all three credit agencies. It is easiest to do it by phone because the websites require you to answer more difficult questions than when you do it by phone. Even more good news! The Equifax freeze passcode is [just the time when you froze it](https://twitter.com/webster/status/906346071210778625). Not even hashed or processed in any way, just the raw timestamp. ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2017, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equifax-data-hack/795814/22 "2017-09-10T02:53:12Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > Even more good news! The Equifax freeze passcode is [just the time when you froze it](https://twitter.com/webster/status/906346071210778625). Not even hashed or processed in any way, just the raw timestamp. Confirmed. They are complete idiots. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2017, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equifax-data-hack/795814/23 "2017-09-11T22:50:30Z")
Isn’t the whole point of companies like Equifax to collect data on individuals then sell it to any with the cash? So somebody got my info for free and Equifax didn’t make a profit this time. Not sure how that hurts the rest of us. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2017, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equifax-data-hack/795814/24 "2017-09-11T22:54:12Z")
> [@shiftless](#): > > Isn’t the whole point of companies like Equifax to collect data on individuals then sell it to any with the cash? So somebody got my info for free and Equifax didn’t make a profit this time. Not sure how that hurts the rest of us. Not quite. If you want a credit report on someone you have to already have their private data (name, SSN, etc.). You can’t just buy a list of SSNs from Equifax. ---
**Author:** ![Jungian\_Camisole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8baadc/32.png) [@Jungian\_Camisole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jungian_Camisole)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equifax-data-hack/795814/25 "2017-09-12T00:42:47Z")
Lifelock, y’all. Sure, it’s been pretty much useless, but this is the time you want them on your side. We both got the Equifax message that we were effected by the hack; we received instant confirmation from Lifelock that all of our accounts are protected. I highly recommend them. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equifax-data-hack/795814/26 "2017-09-12T03:00:22Z")
This “hack” is probably the work of “patriotic Russians”. America’s using its technological and financial leverage to squeeze Russia. I suspect we will discover that two can play that game. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equifax-data-hack/795814.md?page=1)