Asian stocks have tumbled, with Japan’s Nikkei slumping 3.5% on heavy selling of semiconductor-related shares and other market heavyweights.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – No matter if they’re bad or good, credit scores affect everyone’s lives. Still, for many people, by the time they’ve learned the importance of having good credit, it may be too late. If you want to build credit but need some help living within your means, Svoboda recommends getting what’s called a secured credit card. But unlike a debit card, a secured credit card builds credit. Because a bad credit score doesn’t have to be a life sentence.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - With what seems like a new data breach every month, credit monitoring is a sound investment. Fortunately for active duty military and National Guard members, they won't have to pay. As of Oct. 31, three credit reporting agencies Equifax, Experian and TransUnion are provided the service completely free of charges. To take advantage of the program, just sign up for credit monitoring through each of the credit reporting firms. On each of their websites, there's a link for eligible service members:Experian | Equifax | TransUnionIt's that simple.

People are now required to "verify" their claims by providing the name of the credit monitoring service they used when filing and that service had to remain in use for six months after filing. Instead, Equifax is offering a free credit monitoring service to 'amend' claims without cash compensation. To verify your claim for alternative compensation, you must provide the name of your credit monitoring service that you had in place when you filed your claim. - OR - You can amend your claim to request free credit monitoring instead of alternative compensation. The easiest way to verify or amend your claim is by visiting the official Settlement Website here.

(CNN) - Equifax data breach victims who filed for a $125 settlement check will have an opportunity to change their selection and opt for free credit monitoring instead. The money is not first-come, first-served; the $31 million will be split among those who filed a claim for credit monitoring subsidies. Much of the rest of the $300 million is devoted to providing free credit monitoring. Still, the FTC said the offer of free credit monitoring is a good deal. "The free credit monitoring is worth a lot more than the cash reimbursement alternative.

Now, the FTC is trying to persuade Americans to pick a different option: take Equifax's offer of free credit monitoring instead. Under the deal, consumers can file for Equifax's free credit monitoring or to receive a check for up to $125, which is meant to reimburse the cost of getting credit monitoring from elsewhere. "Frankly, the free credit monitoring is worth a lot more the market value would be hundreds of dollars a year." The $31 million cash fund is part of a larger $300 million fund that Equifax agreed to pay for under its data breach settlement with the FTC. The rest of the Equifax money provides free credit monitoring for customers who select that option instead of cash.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Since Equifax announced last week it would pay up to $700 million to settle claims over the massive 2017 data breach, the Federal Trade Commission warned applicants of fake websites that look like the official Equifax settlement site. According to the FTC, to make sure youre not handing over sensitive data, start your claims process on the FTCs Equifax page at ftc.gov/Equifax. RELATED: Here's how to claim your part of Equifax's $700 million settlement | What happens if you don't claim your $125 Equifax money? The federal agency also notes that consumers will never have to pay to file a claim for these benefits. Also, if you receive a call from someone who tries to get you to file a claim, it is almost certainly a scammer, the FTC warned.

Equifax settled with the US Federal Trade Commission over its 2017 data breach, which affected 147 million Americans. The bank said Monday that a hacker gained access to more than 100 million of its customers' personal information. The breach potentially compromises people's Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, addresses, credit scores and limits, among other data. Yahoo's epic historic data breach in 2013 compromised 3 billion people in total. EquifaxEquifax disclosed in 2017 that personal information of as many as 143 million people was compromised.

CNN(CNN) - On Monday, Equifax settled with the US Federal Trade Commission over its 2017 data breach, which affected 147 million Americans. The Equifax Data Breach Settlement website has a look-up tool where you can find out whether your data was compromised. If you'd like to get 10 years of free credit monitoring -- or $125 if you already have ongoing credit monitoring -- you can make a claim. Per the settlement, you're eligible for seven years of "free identity restoration services," according to the FTC. Opting out of the settlement means you don't forfeit your rights against Equifax and can still file your own lawsuit against the company.

CNN(CNN) - If you're among the 147 million Americans whose credit data was compromised in the 2017 Equifax data breach, read on. For those who had to spend time and money as a result of the breach, Equifax can provide larger sums, up to $20,000. You can file a claim through Equifax's data breach settlement page. Equifax has a website where you can find out whether your personal information was exposed. According to the settlement, Equifax will have to pay between $300 million and $425 million to the people whose data was exposed and another $275 million in civil penalties to 48 states, Washington, Puerto Rico and the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau.

Equifax is paying a massive fine for the largest data breach in U.S. history. Distributed by LAKANA. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

(CNN) - Credit reporting agency Equifax has reached a deal to pay up to $700 million to state and federal regulators to settle probes stemming from a data breach that exposed the personal information of nearly 150 million people. The Federal Trade Commission announced Monday that Equifax will pay at least $300 million and as much as $425 million to compensate affected people with credit monitoring services. Equifax will also pay $275 million in civil penalties and other compensation to 48 states, Washington, Puerto Rico and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "Companies that profit from personal information have an extra responsibility to protect and secure that data," said FTC Chairman Joe Simons in a statement. Equifax admitted it was aware of the security flaw a full two months before the company says hackers first accessed its data.

VIDEO: Credit reporting agency Equifax has reached a deal to pay up to $700 million to state and federal regulators to settle probes stemming from a data breach that exposed the personal information... Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

CNNMoney(CNN) - Credit reporting agency Equifax has reached a deal to pay up to $700 million to state and federal regulators to settle probes stemming from a data breach that exposed the personal information of nearly 150 million people. The Federal Trade Commission announced Monday that Equifax will pay at least $300 million and as much as $425 million to compensate affected people with credit monitoring services. Equifax will also pay $275 million in civil penalties and other compensation to 48 states, Washington, Puerto Rico and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "Companies that profit from personal information have an extra responsibility to protect and secure that data," said FTC Chairman Joe Simons in a statement. Equifax admitted it was aware of the security flaw a full two months before the company says hackers first accessed its data.

(CNN) - Credit reporting agency Equifax is nearing a deal to pay about $700 million to state and federal regulators to settle probes stemming from a data breach that exposed the personal information of nearly 150 million people, according to two published reports. Funds from the settlement will go toward compensating consumers for the cost of the 2017 data breach, the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times reported Friday, citing people close to the matter. Equifax first disclosed the hack in September 2017, three months after the company discovered the breach. Equifax admitted it was aware of the security flaw a full two months before the company says hackers first accessed its data. The data breach prompted the resignation of CEO Richard Smith and investigations by federal regulators, multiple states attorneys general and the company faces a number of civil lawsuits.