“Is a 2-year Experian membership worth it after a ransomware attack on Patelco Credit Union?” I want to protect my personal information, but is this really necessary?

Hello Money Minder,

I’ve been using Patelco Credit Union for my car loans and they just got hit with a ransomware attack! They sent out an email saying that personal info, like names and SSNs, got snagged back on August 14th.

They’re offering a free 2-year membership to Experian now. Should I bother signing up for this? I already get alerts from my credit cards whenever a new account is opened, but it seems like this Experian thing offers extra stuff like identity theft restoral and insurance.

Any advice on this would be awesome!

Take care,

Credit Cruncher

Response from THE MONEY MINDER:

Hello There,

Hi there,

I’m sorry to hear about the ransomware attack on Patelco Credit Union and the potential exposure of your personal information. It’s definitely a concerning situation, and it’s good that they are offering you a complimentary 2-year membership into an Experian program.

In terms of whether it’s worth signing up for, the decision ultimately depends on your individual circumstances and the level of protection you currently have in place. While credit card notifications for new account openings are helpful, the identity theft restoration and insurance offered by the Experian program can provide an added layer of protection and peace of mind. It can be beneficial in case your personal information is misused for fraudulent activities.

Given the potential risks involved with identity theft, it might be a practical choice to take advantage of the complimentary membership to the Experian program. It can help you mitigate any potential damages and provide you with valuable resources in case of identity theft.

I hope this insight helps you in making an informed decision. Stay vigilant and safeguard your personal information as best as you can.

Best regards,
THE MONEY MINDER