The world's largest permission-based email marketing service, Epsilon, reported a breach in its security last week.
So far, the biggest problem is that users have had their email addresses exposed in the breach. The list of companies affected keeps growing and so far includes:
- TiVo
- Kroger
- JPMorgan Chase
- Capital One
- Citi
- Walgreens
- LL Bean
- Target
Here are some tips of what to do if you receive an unsolicited email.
• If the email is supposedly from your financial institution, contact them by phone or separate email to determine if they are trying to contact you.
• Open a new browser window and visit the website that supposedly sent the email. Make sure it is promoting the same offer in the email.
• Put your mouse over the link in the email and look at the lower left corner of the screen to make sure the domain name matches the company that is allegedly sending the email.
• If the link must be clicked, it should still show the same domain name. If it doesn’t, and it asks for your financial information such as bank account number, social security number, etc. Do not provide it. If the link has a different domain name, it may be trying to infect your computer with a virus.
• Keep your security software up to date.
• Most importantly, avoid clicking on any links or opening attachments from unsolicited emails.