National Public Data Confirms Massive Data Breach Affecting Millions
In September 2024, National Public Data confirmed that a hacker had compromised the personal records of millions of individuals. The exposed information includes names, email addresses, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and Social Security numbers of up to 2.9 billion people. Here's what you need to know:
What Happened?
National Public Data, a consumer data broker specializing in criminal records, background checks, and other data services for private investigators, public record sites, human resources, staffing agencies, and government entities, was hacked. The breach is believed to have started in December 2023, when a third-party bad actor attempted to gain access.
In April 2024, a cybercriminal known as "USDoD" posted the stolen data online in a popular criminal community. On August 6, the stolen dataset resurfaced, this time available for free on several breach forums, making it accessible for anyone to download.
The released sensitive, personally identifiable information included names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and Social Security numbers for millions of people, including some who are deceased. The data also contained previous addresses and, in some instances, alternate names.
An official data breach notice filed in Maine indicated that 1.3 million records might have been breached; however, some lawsuits suggest that as many as 2.9 billion records have been exposed.
As the investigation continues, many cyber experts find that some of the released data is inaccurate, and aside from the Social Security numbers, most of it is already public and easy to find online.
Why Is This Breach Dangerous?
Even though much of the information can be found with a quick Google search, having all this critical information in one place makes it easy for criminals to use it to apply for credit cards, loans, or open new bank accounts.
Information such as childhood street names or the last four digits of your Social Security number are often answers to security questions and can help hackers bypass authentication to access your private accounts.
Some cyber experts suggest watching for a surge in phishing and smishing (phishing over SMS) attacks as well.
Can You Be Affected Even If You've Never Heard of National Public Data?
Yes! Even if you haven't interacted with them, other organizations, businesses, landlords, etc., may have used their resources to gather information on you.
What Should You Do to Protect Yourself?
Step 1: Check if Your Data Has Been Exposed
Use tools like https://npd.pentester.com/ to find out if your information has been compromised. If so, take immediate action.
Step 2: Request a Copy of Your Credit Report and Freeze Your Credit
One of the best ways to protect your identity is to freeze your credit and set up alerts. This prevents criminals from opening new lines of credit in your name. Contact all three major credit bureaus—Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian—and request a freeze.
The process is free and should take less than 10 minutes per site to complete. If others in your household are over 18, it's a good idea to freeze their credit too. Anyone with a Social Security number is vulnerable following a breach of this size.
Once you have a copy of your free credit report, review it for any unauthorized activity. Don't forget to set up alerts and review your credit regularly.
Step 3: Watch Out for Phishing Scams
Many cybercriminals will try to leverage this information to scam you through phone calls, text messages, emails, and even social media sites. Be cautious!
A data breach is devastating for everyone involved - the
business hacked and the customers or employees whose data is leaked. As a
business owner, it is your responsibility to make sure you are taking the
highest precautions to protect your business and its data. If you want to do a
full assessment and find out if any of your information has been leaked or if
your network is vulnerable to a breach, we'll do a FREE cyber strategy session. This deep dive into your network will provide you with a blueprint
for security steps to take. To book yours, call our office at 954-327-1001 or click here.
