GM CEO Mary Barra back at No. 1 of Most Powerful Women in Business
Fortune recognized Mary Barra for steering General Motors through last year’s UAW contract talks and strike while also improving the automaker’s profitability and stock price.
As hacks surge, protect your Social Security number
By Lauren Schwahn | NerdWallet
Social Security numbers are vital for getting jobs, filing taxes, receiving government benefits and much more; they’re also becoming increasingly vulnerable to identity theft.
In August 2024, news broke that nearly 3 billion Social Security numbers were reportedly compromised in a hack targeting National Public Data, a company that provides data for background checks. More recently, retailer David’s Bridal filed notice of a breach that possibly exposed personal information, including Social Security numbers.
If your unique, nine-digit number falls into the wrong hands, it could have disastrous consequences for your finances. Fraudsters may steal your money or tank your credit. But taking steps such as freezing your credit and blocking electronic access to your SSN with the Social Security Administration can reduce your risk.
Start by locking down your Social Security number
There are a couple of things you can do to restrict the use of your Social Security number: block electronic access to your SSN and lock it with E-Verify.
Hurricane Helene leaves Linamar's N.C. plants reeling
Some Linamar employees remain unreachable and floodwaters hinder operations at its plants in North Carolina.
Coolcations, solo travel and other hot tourism trends
Today’s travel trends are showing where people are going, who they are going with and what they want to do while on a trip.
“People are taking more trips and they are talking about them with their friends,” said Randy Yaroch, CEO and owner of The Travel Society in Greenwood Village. “Then you add social media and that really accentuates how people make choices on where to travel next.”
Knowing what the trends are can be reassuring and inspiring — such as women traveling solo — or possibly lead to making a different choice — like opting to avoid traditional Western European favorites due to crowds.
Yaroch’s Travel Society is a member of Virtuoso, a global network of agencies that specialize in luxury and experiential travel with thousands of travel advisers. A travel adviser is similar to the travel agents of the past, but they offer more advice and insights.
“Travel agents were order taking, but in today’s world they have become professional advisers, more like a consultant that is absolutely curating itineraries,” Yaroch explained. While travel advisers tend to work with premium- to ultra-luxury clientele, Yaroch said, they can also assist with more basic trips such as booking an all-inclusive package and transportation to and from a resort.
Hurricane Helene shuts down North Carolina facilities crucial for microchip production
Facilities in North Carolina operated by two companies that mine a crucial mineral needed for semiconductor production remain down because of the impacts of Hurricane Helene, raising worries about potential long-term effects on microchip supply.