Security Alert: National Public Data Breach May Affect Billions—Find Out How to Secure Your Data
A massive data breach in April has potentially exposed billions of personal records, including Social Security numbers, from the background check service National Public Data (NPD). The breach was confirmed this week by NPD, which disclosed that sensitive personal information such as names, email addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, and mailing addresses were compromised.
The breach became publicly known following a class-action lawsuit filed on August 1 in U.S. District Court in Florida, as reported by Bloomberg Law. Although NPD has not provided specific details on the number of individuals affected, hackers associated with the group USDoD have been selling what they claim to be billions of NPD records since April. However, some security experts have questioned the accuracy of these claims.
David Brumley, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, highlighted that such breaches are likely to increase as data centralization grows. “We are not talking about a startup here,” Brumley said. “Looking forward, we must enforce higher standards for those who handle our data.”
How to Check if Your Information Has Been Compromised
NPD has not yet notified affected individuals directly. They are working with law enforcement to assess the breach and will attempt to notify those significantly impacted. In the meantime, cybersecurity firm Pentester has created a free search tool to help individuals check if their information was exposed. By entering their name, state, and year of birth, users can search the compromised records.
Steps to Protect Yourself if Your Data Was Compromised
If your Social Security number was exposed, it is crucial to take immediate action:
- Freeze Your Credit: Contact one of the three major credit reporting agencies—Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion—to freeze your credit. This can help prevent identity theft.
- Monitor Your Credit: Regularly check your credit reports and scores for any suspicious activity, especially before making significant purchases like car loans or mortgages.
- Set Up Two-Factor Authentication: Enhance the security of your online accounts by enabling two-factor authentication or using authentication apps.
- Create Account Alerts: Set up alerts with your bank for any transactions outside of your usual activity, including foreign charges and ATM withdrawals.
- Stay Vigilant: Be cautious of phishing scams that may exploit the breach. Always verify communications from banks or organizations claiming to assist you. Even if you have set up alerts, double-check with your bank to ensure that no unauthorized transactions have occurred.
Brumley emphasizes the importance of vigilance in protecting yourself after such a significant breach. “There’s not much more you can do when this much data has been compromised,” he notes, but staying aware and proactive can help mitigate the risks.