Major Data Breach Exposes Personal Information of Millions
What Happened?
In September 2024, National Public Data confirmed that a hacker 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.
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 dataset resurfaced, this time freely available on several breach forums for anyone to access and download.
The exposed sensitive, personally identifiable information includes names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and Social Security numbers of millions, including some deceased individuals. The data also contained previous addresses and, in some cases, 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 up to 2.9 billion records have been exposed.
As the investigation continues, many cyber experts have found that some of the released data was inaccurate. Aside from the Social Security numbers, most of the information 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 data in one place makes it easier for criminals 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 private accounts.
Some cyber experts predict a surge in phishing and smishing (phishing over SMS) attacks as a result of this breach.
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 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 see if your information has been compromised. If it has, 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 as well. 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 unauthorized activities. 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 Consult. This deep dive into your network will provide you with a blueprint
for security steps to take. To book yours, call our office at 610-433-1000 or click here.
