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What Actions Can Data-Breach Victims Take?

4 min read

What Actions Can Data-Breach Victims Take?Over the years, millions of individuals have been affected by data breaches, where their sensitive data is accessed by unauthorized cybercriminals or publicly exposed. A data breach can result in huge financial loss if stolen data is used to compromise consumer identity, which also can affect a credit score.

Unfortunately, there is a great number of people who don’t know what to do if affected by a breach. At the same time, there are those in the know who do nothing.

What is a Data Breach?

A data breach is a cyber security incident that exposes sensitive data such as names, contact details, bank details, Social Security numbers, etc.

Data breaches are the work of criminals who aim to obtain specific data. Criminals do this through various methods, including phishing attacks, malware attacks, targeted attacks, vulnerability exploits, and loss or theft of devices. However, data breaches are also a result of technical or human errors. For example, a misconfiguration error exposed the car location data of 2 million Toyota customers in Japan and overseas for 10 years; and the work of an insider led to Tesla’s massive data breach.

Unfortunately, data breach cases keep rising. May 2023 alone saw numerous breaches from different organizations, including healthcare organizations, education institutions, the transportation department, and even tech giants.

For companies, the consequences of data breaches are reputation damage, loss of consumer trust, intellectual property theft, financial loss, and fines due to failure to conform with data protection legislation. While cyber criminals mainly target organizations, individuals also experience identity theft and financial crimes. This especially happens when stolen data is sold on the dark web or publicly published.

What action can data-breach victims take?

Unfortunately, no one is immune from a data breach. However, victims can survive a breach with less disruption. Once a data breach has occurred, the U.S. breach notification law requires businesses or governments to notify those affected immediately after its discovery.

Although companies are responsible for securing customer data in their possession, customers also have a role to play in securing their data. Essential steps to take include:

  • Being aware of any site claiming to be a data breach check site.
    Such sites could ask for personal information or ask a victim to click a link to verify their details. Hackers also take advantage of a breach and pose as the affected company to lure victims into clicking malicious links, primarily through emails. A user must, therefore, first confirm that a breach happened. This can be in the news or on the affected company’s website.
  • Change passwords for accounts exposed.
    In most cases, affected companies will notify victims of their affected accounts, and their security team will provide instructions on how to stay safe. Such instructions include changing passwords on the breached site or any other account that uses similar login credentials.
  • Set up two-factor or multi-factor authentication (2FA/MFA).
    This extra security measure will require a one-time user code to log in to an account in addition to the login and password.
  • Notify the bank.
    If financial-related data is stolen, such as credit card information, the bank must be notified immediately to freeze the cards.
  • Credit freeze.
    Cybercriminals can use stolen data to open new accounts and take loans. To avoid a ruined credit score, individuals can request a credit freeze from major credit bureaus such as Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
  • Monitor personal accounts for any unusual transactions.
    Although it depends on the type of data breach and exposed data, victims must look out for unauthorized transactions, including bank account transactions, medical bills, insurance claims, and tax refund claims.
  • File a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
    If criminals have already used personal data, filing an identity theft report will serve as proof to clear one’s name or dispute a fraudulent transaction.
  • Practice cyber hygiene.
    These are practices that help individuals remain safe online. Aside from account security, consumers must use up-to-date software and operating systems, antivirus software, and avoid publishing too much personal information to minimize online footprints that fraudsters can easily access, such as on social media.

It is worth noting that data breaches are not detected immediately, which means that by the time users get notified, cybercriminals already have had access to the data for some time. And as technology advances, cybercriminals are taking advantage of new technologies, such as generative AI, for phishing attacks. This means that more data breaches may continue to be witnessed.

However, users can help prevent future data breaches by using strong passwords, being cautious of phishing scams, and regularly monitoring financial accounts.

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Raising the Debt Ceiling, Protecting Air Travel and Repealing the Iraq AUMF

3 min read

Raising the Debt Ceiling, Protecting Air Travel and Repealing the Iraq AUMFFiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (HR 3746) – This Act represents a compromise reached by House Republicans and President Biden. Republicans negotiated concessions in exchange for voting to raise the debt ceiling to maintain the solvency of the federal government. These concessions included universal cuts to federal spending, the suspension of student loan repayments that began during the pandemic, additional work requirements for some Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients, and suspending the current $31.4 trillion debt ceiling until 2025. The bill was introduced by Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) on May 29. The legislation was passed in the House on May 31, in the Senate on June 1, and signed into law on June 2 – just in time to avert the global financial crisis, it would have triggered by June 5.

NOTAM Improvement Act of 2023 (HR 346) – This bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN) on Jan. 12. This Act instructs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish a federal NOTAM system (notice to air missions, as required by international or domestic law) as well as an accompanying task force. The task force is directed to evaluate existing regulations, policies, systems, and international standards relating to NOTAMs; determine best practices, and make recommendations to improve the publication and delivery of NOTAM information. This bill passed in the House on Jan. 25, passed with changes in the Senate on May 9, finalized in the House on May 22, and was signed by the president on June 3.

A bill to amend the Tariff Act of 1930 to protect personally identifiable information and for other purposes (S 758) – This bill would require the Treasury Department to remove personal traveler information, such as Social Security and passport numbers, from transportation manifests before they become accessible to the public. The bipartisan bill was introduced by Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) on March 9 and passed in the Senate on the same day. It is presently under review in the House.

A bill to repeal the authorizations for the use of military force against Iraq (S 316) – The purpose of this bipartisan bill is to repeal a decades-old AUMF (Authorization for Use of Military Force) against Iraq. This repeal restores Congress’ constitutional responsibility to undertake the traditional process for approving the use of military force. The bill was introduced on Feb. 9 by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and was co-sponsored by 31 Democrats, 12 Republicans, and three Independents. The bill passed in the Senate on March 29 and is currently under consideration in the House.

Administrative False Claims Act of 2023 (S 659) – Introduced by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) on March 6, this bill would modify the current provisions of fraud committed against the federal government. The current maximum fraud claim is $150,000; the bill would raise that limit to $1 million, as well as enable the federal government to recoup expenses related to the investigation and prosecution of each case. The Senate passed the bill on March 30 before sending it to the House, where it awaits a vote.

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New Personal Finance Provisions in the 2.0 Secure Act

4 min read

2.0 Secure ActThe Continuing Appropriations Act, enacted at the end of 2022, included several provisions that impact retirement plans going forward. Specifically, the legislation enacts SECURE 2.0, an updated version of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019. The following provisions are financial planning considerations that affect individuals.

Increases Catch-up Contributions

Beginning in 2024, catch-up contributions to employer retirement plans made by employees who earn more than $145,000 a year (regularly adjusted for inflation) must be classified as after-tax Roth contributions. This is necessary for eligible plans to retain their tax-favored status.

Starting in 2025, catch-up contributions for participants ages 60 to 63 will increase from $7,500 to $10,000 per year for contributors in most qualified retirement plans. Beginning in 2026, the new catch-up contribution will be indexed to inflation.

Allows Employer Contributions to Roth 401(k)

Employers are now able to make post-tax contributions to a Roth option in an employee’s 401(k) plan. Employers also may open a Roth account option in SIMPLE, and SEP IRA plans for employees.

Expands Emergency Distributions from Retirement Accounts

Starting in 2024, there will be a new exception to the rule for early withdrawals from qualified retirement accounts. Distributions used for unforeseeable events, such as a personal or family emergency, will not be subject to the 10 percent early withdrawal penalty. However, the rule applies to only one distribution per year and only up to $1,000. The plan member has the option to repay the distribution within three years. Absent full repayment, no further emergency withdrawals may occur during those three years.

The provision also waives the withdrawal penalty on any amount for individuals certified by a physician to have a terminal illness.

Increases Age for Required Minimum Distributions (RMD)

Starting in 2023, the age that triggers required minimum distributions (and their requisite income tax liability) from qualified retirement accounts increases from 72 to 73. Starting in 2033, the trigger age raises to 75. The RMD rule apples to 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) plans). Also, starting in 2024, Roth 401(k) accounts will no longer require RMDs.

Reduces Excise Tax on Noncompliant RMDs

If an investor is required to start taking minimum distributions and does not take out the required amount in a single year, he is subject to a tax on the amount not distributed. The tax used to be 50 percent, but starting in 2023, it was reduced to 25 percent. Moreover, if the account owner corrects the course and takes the full distribution within a certain window of time, the tax may be further reduced to only 10 percent.

Allows Emergency Savings Accounts

Starting in 2024, the legislation permits employers to offer an emergency savings account option within its retirement plan. The following provisions apply:

  • Employee contributions are made with after-tax income
  • There is an annual cap of $2,500
  • Participants may make at least one withdrawal per month
  • Up to four withdrawals per year are not subject to fees
  • Emergency savings may be held in an interest-bearing cash-equivalent account
  • Employers may match contributions, but those must be deposited to the participant’s retirement plan investment, not the emergency savings account.
  • The emergency account is portable when the participant leaves the employer and can be rolled into a Roth-defined contribution plan or IRA

Permits Employer Match for Student Loan Payments

Presently – through 2025 – employers may contribute up to $5,250 (tax-free) a year toward worker student loan payments. Starting next year, employers have the option to classify those loan payments as contributions to the company retirement plan, such as a 401(k). This allows workers with student loans the opportunity to pay down that debt with their own income and still receive an employer match toward their retirement plan – so they don’t have to choose one or the other.

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Purchase Acquisition Accounting

3 min read

Purchase Acquisition Accounting, What is Purchase Acquisition AccountingPurchase acquisition accounting is the commonly accepted method to document the acquisition of another business on the balance sheet of the acquiring company. The business’ assets that are being acquired are documented on the acquiring firm’s books at fair market value. The fair market value – defined as what assets would go for on the open market between a buyer and seller on the acquisition date – would increase the overall value of the acquiring company.  

The purchase accounting adjustment re-assesses the acquired business’ liabilities and assets to fair value. Required under GAAP and IFRS, re-assessed items include intangibles, inventories, and fixed assets. Adding intangible assets, like non-compete agreements or customer rosters, to the acquiring company’s books will impact how assets and liabilities are valued because these items were not originally accounted for by the acquired company.

Potential accounting outcomes from an acquisition include depreciation and inventory considerations. Depreciation strategies, such as going beyond straight-line depreciation, will need to be examined and strategically implemented because fixed assets with higher valuations will have accounting implications. For inventory that is re-assessed with higher valuations, the cost of goods sold will increase upon sales for the acquiring company.

Looking forward, the purchase accounting adjustments often affect the business taking ownership of recognizable non-cash expenses. The company buying the other company out can see major losses from these recognizable non-cash expenses prior to the business completing the amortization of the underlying intangible assets. Companies, chiefly publicly traded ones, are encouraged to discuss the losses in financial documents to illustrate their impact on forward guidance.

According to ASC 805 and GAAP, in order to be considered a business combination, certain criteria must be met. According to the CPA Journal, businesses must evaluate if the transaction in question meets the distinctions between acquiring another business versus acquiring assets only. It’s important to distinguish between the two because if an asset acquisition occurs, the transaction is processed via a cost accumulation standard. However, if the transaction in question qualifies as a business acquisition, meeting ASC 805 criteria, it uses a fair value standard.

The primary way to determine in which category a transaction may be classified is to see if it fits the business definition. Based upon FASB’s January 217 Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2017-01, Clarifying the Definition of a Business, the following explanation is provided.

According to FASB, to be considered a business for this business acquisition accounting purpose, a company is defined as a group or collection of tasks that encompass “an input and a substantive process.” Though it’s important to note that the fair value of the collection is not centralized in one or multiple assets. The inputs and processes generally result in services and/or goods to buyers and repayment to stakeholders. It also may apply to companies that don’t presently produce outputs.

When it comes to a business acquisition, having accountants that understand the intricacies of navigating the process is essential for a business to emerge more streamlined after integrating assets.

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6 Ways to Travel on a Budget

4 min read

6 Ways to Travel on a BudgetThe thrill of summer travel is always invigorating, but the prices to get there can be a real bummer. But not to fear. We’re here with some smart tips that will help you navigate in this price jungle and have a wonderful, memory-filled getaway.

Plan Way Ahead

Even though you can sometimes find great deals at the last minute, if you can wrap your head around thinking in advance about your vacay (especially if you’re buying long-haul flights), it’ll pay off. For instance, if you’re traveling to Europe or Asia, you’ll find that buying your tickets early not only provides significant savings but also gives you a jump start on exploring other aspects of your trip, like hotels and excursions. Some helpful sites for comparing prices are Expedia, Kayak, and Priceline. Check these when planning so you can snag the best deals.

Be Flexible

Do you have to travel in July? What about August? Are the fall and December holidays out of the question? If you aren’t stuck on a certain time of year, you’ll realize some significant savings. Also, must you leave town on a Friday? What about a Tuesday or Thursday? Choosing to fly on weekdays can dramatically change the price of your ticket. Plus, flights can be less crowded.

Create a budget – and Stick To It

While this is a challenge, it’s not impossible. That’s why it’s important to think about where you want to go. For example, San Francisco and New York City might be a little on the pricey side. Another thing to consider is how long you want to be away. If you’re thinking about a two-week-long vacation, you might want to be a little stricter with how much you spend each day. That said, don’t be too strict! The whole idea of a holiday escape is to kick back and dive into the culture of a new place.

Choose a Budget-Friendly Destination

As mentioned above, choosing a vacation destination that won’t break the bank is a strategic way to cut costs. Southeast Asia and South America are great places to start. If you’ve decided you must go to Europe, you might want to stay away from the Scandinavian countries. Although they’re crazy beautiful, they have some of the highest cost of living index scores. One way to get ahead of what you might spend is to check out cost of living sites, where you’ll find current stats, estimates, and calculations of how much you might spend each day.

Don’t Overpack

While it’s probably irresistible to overpack (I want to have choices!), if you can travel light, you’ll save on bag fees big time. Even better, if you can limit what you’re taking to just a carry-on, you’ll really avoid those pesky charges, plus it’ll give you the ability to breeze on and off the plane in no time. In terms of what you bring, this also requires some forethought. While packing multiple bathing suits and shorts (if you’re going somewhere tropical) is fun, these fashionable items might be taking the place of necessary gear like a raincoat, a warm hoodie or even a sweater. So take a breath, think through your days, and get packing – judiciously, that is.

Find Free Activities

Before you head out on your adventure, let your fingers do the walking over to your favorite search engine and get going. Search “free stuff to do” (or the like) at your intended destination. You’ll find things like free museums, parks, gardens, and festivals. Then let your feet do the walking! Getting outside, weather permitting, and strolling is one of the best ways to soak in a city.

When you can stay on budget and have a fabulous time with family and friends, you’ll not only come back with amazing memories; you’ll also return without a lot of debt. And that’s a fantastic feeling that will stick with you for a good while.

Sources

https://www.worldremit.com/en/blog/migration/tips-to-travel-on-a-budget/