Sony Corp. announced April 26 that its online PlayStation Network had been hacked and millions of customers' personal data and credit card information may have been stolen. However, Sony knew about the attack about a week before it alerted customers about the breach.
A week is an eon for an identity thief, says John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education for SmartCredit.com. And Sony's recommendation that customers review their account statements and check their credit reports isn't enough, he says. PlayStation Network members -- or anyone whose personal information has been stolen -- need to do more to protect themselves and limit the damage. Here are Ulzheimer's tips:
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