Have you been trying to figure out if your Social Security number was stolen in the huge National Public Data breach? It’s very important to protect your personal information since 2.9 billion records were stolen in December. Here are some steps you can take to protect your identity and find out if your personal information was leaked.
National Public Data, a company that sells personal information to private investigators, customer public record sites, and human resources departments, said in August that their system had been hacked by a “third-party bad actor.” The stolen data was made public on the dark web because of this hack. A proposed class action case says that National Public Data got this information by scraping private sources without permission.
These steps should be taken if you think your Social Security number or other personal information was stolen:
- Check your credit reports from all three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
- Monitor your bank and credit card statements for unusual or unauthorized transactions.
- Consider using identity theft protection services to alert you of suspicious activity.
If you discover that your information was indeed leaked, here are steps you can take to protect your Social Security number:
- Freeze your credit: Contact the major credit bureaus to place a freeze on your credit. This makes it harder for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name.
- Place a fraud alert: A fraud alert warns creditors to take extra steps to verify your identity before issuing credit.
- File a report with the FTC: Visit IdentityTheft.gov to report the theft and create a recovery plan.
Check out the best identity theft protection services to learn more about how to keep your name safe. To add an extra layer of safety, learn how to freeze your credit. If you’re worried about your Social Security payments, here’s when your cheque will come this month and four ways you might lose them.
Keep an eye out for identity theft and take steps to protect your personal information.
A lot of people are asking, “How was my personal information stolen?” after the recent breach in the National Public Data system. A statement from National Public Data this month said that this scary event happened because someone else tried to hack into the database in late December 2023. Some data leaks are thought to have started in April 2024 and went on through the summer of that year.
The Scale of the Data Breach
This theft, which is said to have been planned by a group of cybercriminals called USDOD, could involve almost 3 billion personal records. Your name, email address, phone number, Social Security number, and physical addresses are some of the important pieces of information that were stolen.
How Many Were Affected?
It’s still not clear how many people are actually harmed. Based on conversations with the data broker, Maine’s Attorney General’s office says that the breach affects about 1.3 million people. However, Troy Hunt of Have I Been Pwned, a security expert, says that the leak includes 134 million unique email addresses.
What You Need to Know
- The breach involved a third-party bad actor.
- Attempts to hack into the database occurred in December 2023.
- Data leaks potentially happened in April 2024 and summer 2024.
- The cybercriminal group responsible goes by the name USDOD.
- Nearly 3 billion personal records may have been compromised.
- Information stolen includes names, email addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, and mailing addresses.
Staying Safe and Informed
Because of this big breach, you need to be even more careful about your personal information than before. Check your accounts often for strange behavior, and think about using services that can let you know if your information is being misused. Keep up with the news and take steps to protect yourself from the effects of this terrible event.
It’s more important than ever to keep your personal information safe in this modern world. Since the National Public Data hack, a lot of people are worried that their private information, like their Social Security number, has been stolen. There are a few good ways to find out if someone has accessed your information.
How to Check if Your Social Security Number Was Stolen
Two prominent online security companies have developed websites that allow you to check, for free, if your Social Security number is part of the stolen data:
- Atlas Privacy offers a tool at https://www.npdbreach.com/
- Pen tester provides a similar service at https://npd.pentester.com/
These search tools are easy to understand and use. To check the database of stolen data, all you have to do is enter the necessary information. Both tools told me that my personal information had been stolen when they looked at the different places I’ve lived in.
National Public Data’s Response to the Data Theft
National Public Data has put out a statement explaining what they did in response to the hack. These are them:
- Collaborating with law enforcement and governmental investigators
- Conducting a thorough review of the potentially affected records
If your information has been stolen, the company has promised to let you know if there are any important changes that affect you. Also, to protect yourself from fraud, they say to keep a close eye on your bank accounts for any strange behavior.
In these uncertain times, it’s important to be careful and proactive about your internet safety.
Have you heard that someone got your Social Security number? Even though you can’t stop the theft fully, you can keep an eye on your credit reports and bank accounts to see if there is any strange activity. If your Social Security number or other personal information is being used wrongly, you will be able to tell right away.
Check If Your Data Has Been Leaked
First, check a free site like Have I Been Pwned to see if someone got into your email account through a data hack. In the beginning, this can help you figure out if your private data is at risk.
Monitor Your Credit Reports
You can find out if someone has stolen your name by getting a free credit report every year from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Check these reports for any behavior that doesn’t make sense, like opening new accounts that you didn’t have. Also, keep an eye on your bank and credit card statements for charges and payments that you didn’t plan.
Sign Up for a Credit Monitoring Service
Consider signing up for a service that checks your credit report. These services keep an eye on your credit report at all three major credit companies all the time and let you know if anything seems off. You can set up fraud alerts with a monitoring service to let you know if someone is trying to use your name, even if they are trying to use your Social Security number.
Benefits of Credit Monitoring Services
- Continuous monitoring of your credit reports
- Alerts for unusual activity
- Fraud alerts for attempts to use your identity
Taking these steps can help you stay vigilant and protect your personal information from potential misuse.
What to Do If You Think Your Social Security Number Was Stolen
As soon as you think your Social Security number has been stolen, you should take steps to protect yourself from theft. People who steal your information and use it to open a credit line or get a job can’t do much with the Social Security Administration. There are, however, things you can do to protect your name and lessen the damage.
Protecting Your Social Security Number During Job Applications
When you apply for a job, the company will need your Social Security number to check your past. But be wary of job postings that ask for personal details right away. Telling a recruiter your Social Security number is not a good idea unless you’re about to start a new job and have an official offer in hand.
Stay Vigilant with Financial and Personal Information
It is important to keep an eye on your bank and credit records on a regular basis so that you can deal with any problems as soon as they come up. Turn on two-factor authentication for your passwords to make your internet security better. This extra layer of security helps keep your private data safe on websites and apps.
Verify Communication Sources
It is important to check the source of any notices you get, whether they are emails or phone calls. The Social Security Administration has said that they will only call you if you ask them to. Do not give any personal information to someone who calls or emails you if you think it is a scam.
People who follow these tips are less likely to have their name stolen and their personal information stolen. Keep yourself aware and alert, and protect your sensitive data by taking action.
Everywhere and all the time, people steal. Someone might steal your wallet, bag, or mail in order to find your bank or credit card information. Identity theft can also happen when people look through trash outside of homes or businesses for important information.
The Social Security Administration says that this can happen, as can buying personal information from insider sources. You could also get calls, texts, or emails from people who seem to be official but are actually con artists trying to get you to give them information.