What do you do when you find out that your personal information has been stolen? Do you panic? Do you try to fix it? Whichever decision you make, there is a high chance that you are scared of the financial implications.
Well, this is what happened in a recent hack where over 2.9 billion personal data of Americans, including their Social Security numbers were stolen. However, the issue only got public attention when a California resident cried foul.
Breach of Trust: The Great Data Heist
Sometime in April 2024, a data breach happened at the National Public Data (NPD) when a group of hackers called USDoD stole unencrypted personal data from the agency’s servers. This breach meant that over 2.9 billion users’ data totaling about 277GB was stolen from the NPD and leaked to the dark web.
However, the public wasn’t aware of this incident until a California resident, Christopher Hoffmann brought a lawsuit against the National Public Data. He claimed that he was alerted by his identity theft protection service about his data leak on the dark web. With the agency’s database already compromised, the hackers were able to get loads of personal data including:
- Full names
- Addresses
- Dates of birth
- Social Security numbers
- Phone numbers
Impacts of the Breach
At the moment, the true impact of this hack can’t be quantified, as lots of people would definitely be affected. While we can’t be certain about whose Social Security numbers have been hacked yet, some major impacts Americans can brace up for include widespread identity theft, fraud, and other malicious activities. Victims of the breach could face issues, including:
- Financial losses due to identity theft
- Targeted scams and phishing
- Possible employment identity theft
At the moment, we advise everyone to swing into action and protect their personal information. This is essential because things can get more dangerous once the hackers start selling the stolen personal information on the darkweb or elsewhere.
National Public Data: Who Are These Guys?
The National Public Data is a brokerage company that specializes in the sale of individuals’ data. They are like a grocery store, but instead of groceries they sell people’s information. So, how does the NPD get the data it sells? The firm gets its data from scouring public records and online platforms for individual’s personal information.
These collated data are then sold to employers, investigators, and businesses who want to run background checks on individuals. Now is this legal? Well, it can be if you give consent by accepting cookies while using the Internet. However, these data can also be accessed without the consent of the individual in some cases.
Notifications and Response: Protecting Your Information
Although the data breach happened in April 2024, the National Public Data (NPD) refused to notify individuals of the incident. This has raised criticisms and concerns among many, as they are left to panic and wonder if their personal and financial data are still secure.
In response to the ongoing criticisms, the NPD has released a statement on its website to confirm the leaks. However, this doesn’t change anything, and experts are recommending that individuals take proactive measures to protect their data and finances.
Individuals who are unsure of the safety and security of their data should take the following steps to avoid being a victim of cyber theft:
- Freeze your credit files with Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion
- Enable multi-factor authentication for sensitive accounts
- Use tracking services to monitor data breaches and alerts
- Regularly review credit reports and financial statements for suspicious activity
Conclusion
The National Public Data breach is another reminder to pay adequate attention to our personal and financial data. When essential data like the Social Security numbers fall into the wrong hands, there could be far reaching negative consequences to the owners of such data.
At all times, we should be vigilant when transacting online, and put every check in place to ensure our financial details don’t fall into the wrong hands. This way we can shield ourselves from virtual harm, and potential financial risks.