Internet Security and Programming

Big three credit reporting bureau Equifax on Wednesday detailed its plan to offer certain consumers the ability to freeze their credit files as a means of preventing identity theft. The offering provides a clearer picture of how the credit bureaus are likely to deploy this process. Earlier this month, the other two credit bureaus — Experian and TransUnion — said they would offer credit-freeze rights to consumers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. In announcing its offering, Equifax said that beginning Oct. 31 it would start offering credit freezes to consumers in the 11 states (and Puerto Rico) where there currently are no security freeze laws in place. In those areas, the company plans to charge consumers $10 to place, thaw or remove credit freezes, while offering them for free to confirmed identity theft victims. For consumers in the 39 other states (and D.C.), Equifax will continue

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