A massive cybersecurity breach has potentially compromised the social security numbers of all Americans, putting their identities at risk.
The hacking group USDoD claims to have leaked 2.7 billion personal information records, including social security numbers, full names, and home addresses, from a data broker named National Public Data (NPD).
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NPD is a background check agency that provides sensitive personal information to potential employers, staffing agencies, and private investigators during screening processes.
A class action lawsuit alleges that NPD obtained the data without consent, and the breach took place around April 2024.
The lawsuit claims that USDoD was able to exfiltrate the unencrypted personal information of billions of individuals, which was subsequently published, offered for sale, and sold on the Dark Web by cybercriminals. According to BleepingComputer, the data was sold for $3.5 million.
How Can I Check If I Was Hacked?
There are several ways to determine if your personal information has been compromised.
Monitor your credit reports for any unauthorized or fraudulent activity, such as new bank accounts, credit cards, or large withdrawals.
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If you receive notifications from debt collectors or notice any suspicious activity, contact your financial institutions and law enforcement immediately.
Always be cautious about giving out your social security number and consider initiating calls yourself rather than providing personal information over the phone.