First, look at the handy AI photo. If only, I’d be so good at multitasking. (lol) 

“Hey, Kim, I just was notified that my personal data was part of the recent SimonMed data breach. My data’s already out there from another breach. Does it even matter anymore?” — Sara in Newport Beach, CA

Hearing about breach after breach at banks, hospitals, insurance companies, even schools, it’s easy to feel like throwing your hands up.

Your Social Security number? Gone. Your passwords? Already for sale. So does protecting your identity still matter?

Absolutely. More than ever.

Here’s the deal: You can’t stop your info from leaking. That ship has sailed. But you can stop criminals from ruining your life with it.

✅ Here’s how to protect yourself

Set up an IRS online account: You’ll be able to spot suspicious activity early. Go here.

Get an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN): It’s a six-digit code that locks down your tax return, so no one can file in your name without it. Get your PIN here.

Pull your credit reports: Head to AnnualCreditReport.com. It’s free, and you’ll see if anything weird pops up.

Freeze your credit for free: Note there are four credit bureaus now.

Freeze Equifax

Freeze Experian

Freeze TransUnion

Freeze Innovis

You might not be able to stop the next breach, but you can stop it from wrecking your finances, your credit and sanity.

🛟 An extra layer of protection

I had LifeLock until I got tired of paying nearly $300 a year and being constantly upsold. Now I use NordProtect, and only pay $51.24 a year. That’s 71% off when signing up for two years using my promo code. Big difference.

Just the other day, I got an alert that my personal info was exposed in a site’s data breach. Thanks to NordProtect, I knew right away. I deleted the account and stopped any trouble before it started.

NordProtect scans the dark web 24/7, alerts you to leaks, offers identity theft recovery, cyber extortion protection and online fraud coverage at no extra cost. If you fall victim to any of these crimes, you’ll receive expert support to resolve the issue, with your expenses covered for peace of mind.

Full disclosure: NordProtect is a sponsor of my national radio show. I’d use them even if they weren’t. They’re affordable, effective and actually put you back in control. Learn more about it now.
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