Steps to Protect Your Information After the National Public Data Leak

If your personal information was caught up in the recent National Public Data breach, there are steps you can take to protect yourself from potential identity theft. The company, which provides data to consumer public record sites, private investigators, and HR agencies, announced this week that a “data security incident” may have exposed names, email addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, and mailing addresses stored on its servers.

National public data leak exposes millions of social security numbers in massive breach.https://t.co/k4hTG8Z9q9

— TechTicia (@TechTicia) August 17, 2024

The breach, reported to have affected 2.9 billion records, was the result of a third-party bad actor leaking stolen information on the dark web. According to a proposed class action lawsuit, National Public Data allegedly scraped nonpublic sources without consent to gather this information. The data hacks occurred in late December 2023, with further potential leaks in April 2024 and the summer of 2024.

In response, the company stated it is cooperating with law enforcement and government investigators while reviewing the affected records. National Public Data has promised to notify individuals if there are further significant developments related to their personal information. In the meantime, they recommend monitoring your financial accounts for any unauthorized activity.

If you believe your Social Security number or other personal data was compromised, there are steps you can take. Start by visiting the Federal Trade Commission’s IdentityTheft.gov to fill out a form and receive a personal recovery plan, which will guide you through protecting yourself from fraud and recovering your identity. You can also contact the IRS to prevent someone from filing a tax return in your name or using your number for employment. Filing a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) can also help fight internet crime, and checking your credit report regularly will help you spot any unusual activity.

“Massive data leak of ~2.7B records may include sensitive personal data for every person in the US, UK & Canada… includes social security numbers… said to have come from a company known as National Public Data, which collects and sells personal data…” https://t.co/LYujiCbcYT

— Amber Mac (@ambermac) August 16, 2024

If you believe your Social Security number has been tampered with, contact the Social Security Administration for assistance. If the issue persists, you may need to apply for a new Social Security number.

To further limit your risk, memorize your Social Security number instead of carrying the card in your wallet, and store the card in a secure place at home. Ensure privacy when sharing your Social Security number over the phone by making sure you’re out of hearing distance from others.

Taking these steps can help protect your identity and minimize the risks associated with the National Public Data breach.

Key Points:

i. National Public Data reported a data breach that potentially exposed personal information, including Social Security numbers, of 2.9 billion individuals.

ii. A class action lawsuit suggests the stolen data was leaked on the dark web by a third-party bad actor.

iii. Affected individuals are advised to monitor financial accounts closely and take steps to protect their identity, including using the Federal Trade Commission’s IdentityTheft.gov.

iv. It’s crucial to contact the IRS and Social Security Administration if your Social Security number has been compromised.

v. To reduce risk, memorize your Social Security number, avoid carrying the card in your wallet, and ensure privacy when sharing the number over the phone.

RM Tomi – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News