16 Billion Reasons to Freeze Your Credit File

In June 2025, Cybernews uncovered the largest password leak in history: over 16 billion compromised credentials. Many matched with email addresses, home addresses, and even phone numbers. Experts are calling it the “mother of all breaches.”

This kind of exposure makes identity theft and fraud not just possible, but much more likely. And one of the most effective ways to protect yourself is by freezing your credit. 

What Is a Credit Freeze?

A credit freeze (or security freeze) stops lenders from accessing your credit reports. That means even if someone has your Social Security number and personal info, they can’t open new loans or credit cards in your name. 

This used to cost money, but law passed in September 2018 required the bureaus to allow this service free of charge. It’s also reversible and will not damage your credit score. 

Why It Matters

• New account fraud is rising. About 15% of identity theft cases involve criminals opening fake accounts using stolen identities (FTC).
  
  
• Children and older adults are especially vulnerable. Child identity theft often goes unnoticed until adulthood (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau).
  
  • This is why I always recommend freezing your child’s credit as soon as they are issued a SSN! Then unfreeze their file when they need to apply for their first credit card as an adult.
    
    
• Credit freezes are legally protected. Thanks to the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act of 2018, all credit freezes and unfreezes must be offered for free.
  
  

How to Freeze Your Credit (Step-by-Step)

You must place a freeze at all three of the major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Here’s how:

1. Gather Your Info:

You’ll typically need:

• Full name and date of birth
  
  
• Social Security number
  
  
• Current and past addresses
  
  
• Copy of a government-issued ID and utility bill (for mail or phone requests)
  
  

2. Contact* Each Bureau (*I recommend doing this online via the links shown below, but for children you can’t do it online)

‍Equifax:

equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services

888-298-0045

P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348

‍

Experian:

experian.com/freeze

888-397-3742

P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013

‍

TransUnion:

transunion.com/credit-freeze

888-909-8872

P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094

‍

Requests made online or by phone take effect within 1 business day (FTC.gov).

What If You Need New Credit?

A credit freeze doesn’t last forever. You control it. You can:

• Temporarily lift it online or by phone, usually within an hour
  
  
• Schedule a lift for a specific date range (helpful for car loans, credit cards, etc.)
  
  • This is what I always do when I need to apply for something
    
    
• Permanently remove the freeze if needed (I don’t recommend this unless don’t it for a child when they turn 18 so they can reinstate the freezes via their own logins online). 

You’ll use a PIN or password to verify your identity each time.

Freezing Credit for a Child

I highly recommend freezing any of your children’s credit accounts. This will prevent credit fraud in their name while they’re a minor. You’ll need to submit documents (like their birth certificate and your ID) by mail to each bureau. (CFPB Guide)

Credit Freeze vs Credit Lock vs Fraud Alert

Don’t do the credit lock option! These are gimmicky tactics for the bureaus to make extra money off you. A credit freeze is the strongest and most reliable option, especially if you’ve been part of a breach.

Final Thoughts

Freezing your credit is one of the most powerful tools you have to protect your identity, especially as data breaches become more common and more dangerous.

While freezing your credit won’t stop every kind of identity theft, it will block one of the most damaging forms. 

It’s free, easy, and it might just save you significant time and money.