Identity Theft & Data Breach Recovery Guides
Start with your situation, or browse every guide. General information, not legal advice.
All guides
What to Do First If Your Identity Is Stolen
The exact first steps to take, in order, the moment you suspect your identity has been stolen.
Read →How to Freeze Your Credit After a Data Breach
Step-by-step: how and why to freeze your credit at all three bureaus after a breach.
Read →Can I Sue a Company for a Data Breach?
When a data breach may support a lawsuit, and what a consumer-protection attorney looks for.
Read →How to Recover a Hacked Email Account
The official recovery steps for a hacked email account, and how to lock it down afterward.
Read →Signs Your Identity Has Been Stolen
The warning signs that someone may be using your identity, before the damage grows.
Read →How to Report Identity Theft to the FTC
Why and how to file a report at IdentityTheft.gov, and what it gets you.
Read →What to Do If Your Social Security Number Is Stolen
The specific steps to take when your SSN, not just a card number, has been exposed.
Read →How to Recover a Hacked Instagram or Facebook Account
Platform-specific recovery flows for the two most commonly hijacked social accounts.
Read →Data Breach Notification Letter: What It Means
How to read a breach notice, what it's required to disclose, and what to do next.
Read →Romance Scam Recovery Steps
What to do after a romance or online scam, from stopping contact to reporting it.
Read →Credit Freeze vs. Credit Lock: What's the Difference?
The legal and practical differences between a freeze and a lock, and which to use.
Read →When Does a Data Breach Qualify for a Class Action Lawsuit?
The factors that typically determine whether a breach can become a class action.
Read →Helpful tools
Tools we recommend for anyone recovering from a hack, breach, or scam. As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.