PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Governor Dan McKee has issued a message to the public urging Rhode Islanders who may have been impacted by the data security threat to RIBridges to take five key steps to protect their personal information. According to a release sent out by McKee’s office, Rhode Islanders who may have been impacted by this security threat are encouraged to: 1. Freeze Your Credit: You can contact all three credit reporting agencies to do so. Equifax: 1-888-298-0045 Experian: 1-888-397-3742 TransUnion: 1-800-916-8800 2. Order a Free Credit Report: You should request from one of the listed reporting agencies. You can also request a free credit report here. 3. Place a Fraud Alert on Your Files: You can ask one of the credit reporting agencies for help. This is free, and it lets creditors know to contact you before any new accounts can be opened in your name. 4. Use Multi-factor Authentication: Double protection makes it much harder for cybercriminals to access your information. 5. Be Aware: Officials said residents should never share personal information, such as your social security number, date of birth or password, through an unsolicited e-mail, call or text. Legitimate companies and banks do not know your password and will never ask for it. “Right now, the most important thing for potentially impacted Rhode Islanders to do is protect your personal information,” said McKee. “Freezing your credit, contacting the credit bureaus, setting up multiple levels of security, and staying alert will help keep your identity safe. Together, we will navigate this challenge,” he said. You can visit this website here for the latest information. Categories: News