EQUIFAX WELCOMES CAMPAIGN TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF ONLINE THREATS

New campaign by Google and the Citizens Advice Bureau aims to create awareness of online fraud and internet security

www.equifax.co.uk

London 19th October - Internet search engine Google and The Citizens Advice Bureau are launching a campaign to increase awareness of online threats and to make users feel safer on the internet. The campaign will cover topics such as internet passwords and scam emails, and leading ID fraud expert Equifax is reminding consumers of the importance of protecting their personal details online.

"The campaign is essential both for consumers and internet businesses, as they need their users to feel safe when they are using the internet," says Neil Munroe, External Affairs Director for Equifax. "Consumers need to be aware just how easy it is for their personal details to be obtained when doing everyday things online, such as shopping or checking back accounts. They need to know exactly how to prevent online identity fraud and how easily this can be done."

"Internet fraudsters only need to obtain three pieces of a user's personal information to be able to obtain goods or money in their name. With the increase of social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, and an increase in people shopping online, personal details are easier to obtain than ever."

With this in mind, Equifax is supporting the upcoming internet safety campaign and urging people to review their own internet activity and protection of passwords.

"We are urging social network users and people who regularly shop or check their bank account online to ensure that they regularly check their password settings and tight control over who views their personal information," continues Munroe. "By putting information such as email addresses or phone numbers onto personal accounts, this makes people increasingly more vulnerable to phishing."

Equifax is offering advice on how to stay safe on the internet and prevent the risk of online identity fraud:

• No matter how much you trust your friends, work colleagues, never disclose your PIN, internet passwords or usernames to anyone
• Ensure your computer screen is password protected and locked when you leave it unattended
• Never leave personal financial documents lying around and be wary of those near you when doing online banking
• Make sure you wipe the history on your computer after use
• If you are using a public computer make sure you log out of sites, rather than just closing the window.
• Try not to access online banking accounts on a mobile phone.
• Never give out your personal details on the phone or by email until you know exactly who you are dealing with and that they are from a legitimate organisation.

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For further press information please contact: Louise Fowler, Clare Watson or Wendy Harrison at HSL on 020 8977 9132 / Fax: 020 8977 5200 or Email: clare@harrisonsadler.com

About Equifax

Equifax is a global leader in consumer and commercial information solutions, providing businesses of all sizes and consumers with information they can trust. We organize and assimilate data on more than 500 million consumers and 81 million businesses worldwide, and use advanced analytics and proprietary technology to create and deliver customized insights that enrich both the performance of businesses and the lives of consumers.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Equifax operates in four continents and 15 countries, is a member of Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500® Index. Its common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol EFX. For more information, please visit www.equifax.com.