Data breaches are alarmingly common—and their impact continues to grow. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center’s 2024 Data Breach Report, there were over 2,500 publicly reported data breaches in 2024, resulting in more than one billion breach notification messages being sent to affected individuals. (Source)
The type of information exposed in a data breach can vary widely. It may include Social Security numbers, passwords, email addresses, financial information, and even sensitive health records. While companies are legally and ethically obligated to safeguard the personal data they collect, these staggering numbers show that many fail to take adequate precautions.
Although consumers can’t directly control a company’s security practices, there are practical steps you can take to minimize your risk and reduce the fallout if your data is ever compromised.

1. Limit the Data You Share
   While many companies require some personal information to provide services, you often have the option to opt out of unnecessary data sharing, especially when it involves marketing or third-party advertisers. For example, an insurance provider may need your address and vehicle information to provide a quote—but might also ask for optional consent to use that data for advertising purposes. Opting out of these extras limits the amount of personal information that could be exposed in a future breach.
2. Delete Old and Unused Accounts
   A review of recent breaches reveals that companies often store outdated or inactive account data—leaving old information vulnerable. For example, one of T-Mobile’s previous data breaches involved data from prospective and former customers, not just active users. If you no longer use an online account—or never finished signing up—check whether the company offers a data deletion option. Reducing your digital footprint is a powerful way to limit your exposure in future incidents.
3. Choose Reputable Companies
   With today’s ease of launching websites and apps, not all companies are created equal. Before sharing personal information, review the company’s privacy policy to see what security measures they disclose. Look for mentions of industry-standard protections, encryption practices, or regular security audits. If a company lacks a privacy policy—or doesn’t mention how it protects your data—that’s a red flag that it may not have sufficient safeguards in place.
4. Use Unique and Frequently Updated Passwords
   One of the most common ways data breaches spiral into identity theft is through reused login credentials. When hackers get access to one password, they often try it on multiple sites. To prevent this, use unique passwords for each account and update them regularly (at least every six months). Consider using a password manager to generate and store secure passwords for every site you use.
5. Stay Informed About Data Breaches
   Most states require companies to notify individuals when their data has been compromised—but you may not always receive notice, especially if your contact information is outdated or missing. Several states maintain public databases of reported breaches, and our firm maintains an updated list of recent data breaches that may affect consumers. For example, recent data breaches reported in the State of California can be accessed here.
6. Contact Us if You’ve Been Affected
   If you believe your information may have been compromised in a data breach, don’t wait. You may have legal rights and options. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss how we can help you protect your privacy and pursue potential compensation.