The most recent data breach at Equifax (a major U.S. credit reporting firm) has the potential to affect 143 million consumers the firm announced yesterday in this press release.

“This is clearly a disappointing event for our company, and one that strikes at the heart of who we are and what we do. I apologize to consumers and our business customers for the concern and frustration this causes,” said Equifax Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Richard F. Smith.

Equifax is one of three nationwide credit reporting companies that track and rate the financial history of consumers. These types of firms get the data they analyze from lenders and public records.

U.S. consumers are being advised to follow this link to begin a process of verification and potential enrollment in free identity monitoring being made available to victims of the leak.

Security intelligence analyst Eric Garland weighed in via Twitter earlier today:

This Equifax incident and other recent corporate data breaches are the cause for a renewed concern among consumers regarding information that third parties collect, share, and store.