A new data breach at the giant credit reporting TransUnion, caused Michigan's Attorney General, Dana Nessel, to urge residents to stay alert following the break. How the TransUnion Breach HappenedInvestigators say that the breach was caused by a third-party application, gaining unauthorized access to TransUnion systems. What TransUnion Is Offering Affected ConsumersWith the recent exposure, TransUnion is offering affected consumers 24 months of free credit monitoring. Steps to Protect Yourself Against Identity TheftMichigan consistently ranks among the top states for identity theft cases, Nessel stresses that everyone should take extra precautions. Nessel has also renewed her call for stronger data breach notification laws, so that companies can be held accountable for breaches and to better protect their customers.