Major Data Breach Exposes “Billions of People” in the US
A new lawsuit alleges that hackers have accessed the personal information of “billions of people,” including sensitive data such as Social Security numbers, addresses, and family members’ names. This breach could potentially lead to fraudulent activities targeting financial accounts and funds.
The Allegation and Lawsuit
The lawsuit, filed by California resident Christopher Hofmann, claims that his identity protection service notified him of a compromise of his personal information by “nationalpublicdata.com,” which was then leaked to the dark web. The breach, reportedly orchestrated by a hacker group known as USDoD, targeted a background check company called National Public Data (NPD).
Details of the Data Breach
The stolen files, allegedly leaked by the hacker, contained 2.7 billion records, each containing a person’s full name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, and phone number. While the exact number of affected individuals remains unclear, the potential impact could extend to anyone with a Social Security number, as per cybersecurity expert Cliff Stadt.
According to Steinhauer, the breach serves as a stark reminder of the need for individuals to take proactive measures in safeguarding their personal information, given the vulnerabilities in the current system.
NPD has yet to respond to inquiries about the breach, leaving many concerned about the security of their data.
Transition: Despite the lack of concrete information from NPD, further details of the hack shed light on the scope and severity of the breach.
Implications and Recommendations
With the scale of the data breach unknown, individuals are advised to freeze their credit files at major bureaus and take additional steps to secure their information. Strengthening passwords, utilizing password managers, enabling multi-factor authentication, and staying vigilant against phishing scams are crucial measures to protect against potential fraud.
Moreover, cybersecurity experts emphasize the importance of updating security software, remaining cautious of online activities, and considering tracking services to monitor any exposure on the dark web. In light of the breach, it is imperative for individuals to assume they have been compromised and take proactive steps to mitigate risks.
