Nearly 14 million online identity records lost in November, research confirms

Consumers may now have renewed inspiration for taking online security measures into their own hands after research from IdentityHawk revealed that 13,945,653 online records were compromised last month as a result of 87 reported data breaches.

"While the number of records lost is staggering, the most important statistic is that 16 percent of the breaches were of Social Security numbers," explained company spokesman Jeff Paradise. "Loss of a Social Security number or driver's license number is the cornerstone of having your identity stolen."

To limit the damage associated with such events, Paradise encouraged consumers to diligently monitor news reports of public data security breaches and to examine the details of these incidents to determine if and how they are affected. Reviewing financial statements and looking for fraudulent charges may also help stop identity thieves before it's too late.

To prevent these unfortunate occurrences altogether, it may be time for consumers to take personal accountability for their online safety. This process doesn't not necessarily have to be complex or technically demanding, according to privacy experts, as even a free password manager tool can greatly reduce the risk of identity theft.