Did you know that 429 million identities were exposed in 2015? Findings from the 2016 Symantec Internet Security Threat Report show that this number actually hides a bigger story. While there was a record number of 9 mega breaches in this year, companies are not required to disclose the full extent of a data breach. The total number of people affected by a data breach and whose identity is compromised as a result could be much greater. A conservative estimate by Symantec accounting for unreported breaches pushes the number of records lost in a data breach to more than a half billion, in 2015.

What is a mega breach?

A mega breach is a data breach of more than 10 million records. In one of the largest mega breaches in 2015, 78 million patient records were exposed in an Anthem data breach.

How a data breach can expose your identity and other risks

Compromised personal data resulting from a data breach can expose your identity to theft and fraud at the hands of cybercriminals. On average, a victim of cybercrime can spend 21 hours dealing with the impact. Imagine not only the potential financial loss, but also the time spent notifying financial institutions, updating account credentials, and a number of other inconveniences when your online identity is exposed.

Take a closer look at data breaches by the numbers:

Tips to Stay Safe Online:

• Regularly monitor your credit report for suspicious activity.
• Information sent over public wi-fi can be stolen. Use secure connections.
• Use unique sign-on credentials on all your online accounts and enable two-factor authentication.
• Mind your privacy on social media. Do not share details identity thieves can profit from.

More tips to protect your identity and information online in the event of a data breach:

What are the Laws Regarding Internet and Data Security?

Credit Monitoring Services and Other Anti-fraud Protection