Millions of Americans were shocked to learn their personal information might have been stolen during the Equifax breach, but many college students were shocked to learn that there was a breach in the first place.

One-hundred-forty-five million Americans were affected by the breach, which lasted from May to July. This breach has been described as the most devastating cyber security attack in American history by cyber analysts because of the type of information stolen rather than the size. Typical data breaches include the theft of usernames and passwords to online accounts, but the Equifax breach resulted in the theft of crucial personal information including, social security numbers, addresses, birthdays, drivers’ license numbers, and credit card numbers: the information necessary for identity theft.

Identity theft is defined as the fraudulent acquisition and usage of someone else’s personal information. Javelin Strategy & Research reports that 15.4 million Americans fell victim to identity theft in 2016, and on average, nearly 22% of college students will have their identities stolen each year. Cyber analysts fear these numbers will soon rise due to the Equifax breach.

College students are often the targets of identity thieves because their digital identities are for the most part, blank canvases. “Their identities are largely unused and unchecked. Their credit scores are usually pretty high because they haven’t done much to affect them.” The Director of IU’s Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research Von Welch says that these unused identities are dangerous. “College students’ digital identities are targeted because there isn’t much previous activity to compare to fraudulent activity. It doesn’t stand out.”

Welch further explains that college students are targets for identity thieves because, “It may take a college student weeks, months, or even years to notice their identity has been stolen.” Welch says he has seen cases where recent college graduates are unable to rent apartments, lease cars, or even land certain jobs because their credit has been ruined with years of identity theft damage.

IU junior Allie Newman’s experience with identity theft did not reach that level, but Newman knows how easy it is to fall victim to identity thieves. Newman’s credit card information was stolen 3 weeks after she got it her freshman year here at IU. “I didn’t notice it happened for a while because the purchases they made blended in with mine.” Newman’s bank was able to detect the fraud and helped her recover the damages, but Newman now believes students are at more risk than they might think.

IU freshman Reed Ulery knows he is at risk, but he’s confident he is safe. “I am very mindful of my purchases and always make sure I check my bank account.” But Ulery, along with many other college students, believe students aren’t even likely targets in the first place. “I don’t even have that much money in my bank account. I don’t know why an identity thief would target me.”

Although cyber analysts stress how easy it is to have your identity stolen, they also say it is easy it is to prevent identity theft, by obtaining a credit freeze. A credit freeze is basically a lock on your personal information, meaning no agency, company, or person who access your information until you unlock it.

Credit freezes can be purchased (or obtained) through all three major credit-reporting agencies. Indiana residents are able to obtain free credit freezes, according to state law. More information on how to obtain a credit freeze can be found here.