Hacking into online accounts of major corporations is on the rise. The attack on Adobe has left nearly three million customers vulnerable. What can you do to protect yourself?

The fact is that Adobe and the other companies already have lots of security built into their systems. Unfortunately, no system is foolproof. Adobe notified its customers of the attack and reset all their customers' passwords. There is still questions of how much credit card information was stolen, but Adobe believes it to be encrypted data.

What do you do if you have been notified that your account has been breached?

Reset your password. Resetting your password is one of the first steps. This way you ensure that your account is not open to easy entrance.

Stop using the same password. Any other accounts that you use with the same hacked user ID and password should be changed. Reset these accounts with a new password.

Cancel your credit card or debit card. It is advisable to notify your credit card company. They will mark your card as lost and issue you a new number and card. They will check your account for any unauthorized activity. It is better to be safe than sorry. Do this as soon as you are aware of a breach in your account.

Change your recurring transaction information. You will want to notify your credit card company if you have recurring credit card transactions. This will allow a smooth transition so that those transactions can continue without interruption.

Change your credit account information at retailers. You will need to change any stored credit card information to your new number at any online retailers you frequent. Just sign on to your account and under your account information, change your old card number to the new one.

Some other suggestions:

Use a credit card instead of a debit card. Credit cards carry more fraud protection than debit cards. Have one credit card strictly for online purchases. This makes it easier to keep track of your activity. Plus, you only have to cancel one card if there is a problem.

Use a different password for each account. This can tax a person's memory, but you ensure greater security by having different passwords. You can store your passwords on a UBS drive or in an old-fashioned notebook by your computer or tablet.

Consider a credit monitoring service. Credit card monitoring services are available to watch your account for unusual or fraudulent activity. In the case of the Adobe attack, Adobe plans to offer a free year of credit monitoring for those customers whose credit has been compromised.

Check your credit report. Do an annual check of your credit report from the three credit reporting agencies. The credit report is free and gives you an opportunity to correct any mistakes or to find any fraudulent activity.


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