October 28, 2024
In September 2024, National Public Data confirmed that a hacker had compromised the personal records of millions of individuals. The exposed information includes names, e-mail 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 providing criminal records, background checks, and other data to private investigators, consumer public record sites, human resources, staffing agencies, the government, and more, was hacked. The breach is believed to have started in December 2023 when a third-party bad actor attempted to gain access.
In April, a cybercriminal known as "USDoD" posted the stolen data online in a popular criminal community. On August 6, the stolen dataset resurfaced, this time posted for free on several breach forums, making it accessible for anyone to download.
The released information included sensitive, personally identifiable details such as names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and Social Security numbers for millions of people, including some deceased individuals. 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.
Why Is This Breach Dangerous?
Although much of the exposed information can be found with a quick Google search, having all this critical data in one place makes it easier for criminals to misuse it. They can use the information to apply for credit cards and loans or open new bank accounts.
Details such as childhood street names or the last four digits of your Social Security number are often used as answers to security questions, helping hackers bypass authentication and access your private accounts.
Cyber experts also warn of a potential surge in phishing and smishing (phishing over SMS) attacks.
Can You Be Affected Even if You've Never Heard of National Public Data?
Yes! Even if you haven't interacted with National Public Data, other organizations, businesses, landlords, etc., may have used their resources to gather information about 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. Freezing your credit and setting up alerts is one of the best ways to protect your identity. This prevents criminals from opening new lines of credit in your name. Contact all three major credit bureaus—Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian—to request a freeze. The process is free and should take less than 10 minutes per site. If there are others in your household over the age of 18, it's wise 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, e-mails, 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 Discovery Call. This deep dive into your network will provide you with a blueprint
for security steps to take. To book yours, call our office at (951) 742-8020 or click here.
