Understanding the risks of losing Social Security number is crucial in today’s digital age. With the recent data breach exposing millions of SSNs, knowing how to protect this vital piece of personal information is more important than ever.
The Scale of the Data Breach
The data breach at National Public Data (NPD) has exposed the Social Security numbers of an estimated 2.9 billion people. The exposed numbers are of the residents of the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. This massive leak compromises the personal information of nearly every American, making it one of the largest data breaches in history.
Security experts believe the sheer scale of the breach is unprecedented. It has potentially impacted over 90% of the adult population in the affected countries. The massive trove of sensitive data, totaling 277 GB has fallen into the hands of a cybercriminal group called USDoD. This group has initially tried to sell the data on the dark web for a multi-million-dollar payout.
Type of Information Stolen
The information stolen in this breach was Social Security numbers. These unique 9-digit identities are crucial for a wide range of official purposes, such as obtaining loans, credit cards, and employees. Apart from this, the breach includes other identifiable information that can be exploited by fraudsters. This includes full names, phone numbers, and current and past addresses spanning decades. It also consists of dates of birth, and in some cases, even criminal records.
This level of detailed personal information makes it exceptionally easy for criminals to commit identity theft and open fraudulent accounts. The combination of SSNs, names, addresses, and other sensitive data provides everything needed to impersonate victims and take over their identities,
Who Is Responsible
The cybercriminal group responsible for the hacking of the National Public Data (NPD), is believed to have first attempted to breach the company’s system in December 2023. After several rounds of attacks, they were able to successfully exfiltrate the massive collection of personal data in the following months.
NPD has acknowledged the breach in its official disclosure, but the company has faced criticism for its delayed response. Security experts suspect that USDoD may have been monitoring NPD’s systems for an extended period to maximize the amount of stolen data before being detected.
Role of National Public Data
Founded in 2008, the National Public Data (NPD) is a data broker firm with its headquarters located in Coral Springs, Florida. The company’s primary business is providing background check services to a variety of clients, including employers, private investigators, and other organizations that require verification of individuals’ personal information.
NPD’s extensive database, which is designed to assist in making informed decisions about hiring, tenancy, and other assessments, has now been compromised. Millions of people whose information was never permitted to be retained by the form have had their private information exposed.
NPD’s Response to the Breach
NPD has come under heavy fire for not informing customers about this breach as soon as they found the information. The company only acknowledged the incident and published a breach disclosure notification on its website on August 15, 2024. This is several months after the first hack attempts in December 2023 and subsequent data leaks in the following months.
This delayed response has left millions of people vulnerable. They were unaware that their personal information had been stolen and could be used for malicious purposes during this extended period.
Ways to Check if You Are Affected
Individuals can utilize several methods to determine if their personal information has been compromised in this or other data breaches. The popular “Have I Been Pwned” service, created by Troy Hunt, allows users to enter their email addresses to see if they have been involved in known data breaches.
Additionally, credit monitoring companies like TransUnion and Experian can provide alerts for suspicious activity on credit reports. This may indicate a data breach. Closely monitoring one’s financial accounts for any unauthorized activity is also recommended. While unreliable, companies may sometimes notify individuals if their data has been involved in a case. However, in this case, NPD did not provide widespread notification.
Potential Misuse of Stolen Data
The massive collection of personal information stolen from NPD can be exploited by scamsters in a variety of malicious ways. The most common threats include opening fraudulent credit card accounts and applying for loans in victims’ names. It can also be for committing tax fraud by filing false returns, accessing existing financial accounts, and creating fake identities for illegal activities.
The combination of SSNs along with other sensitive data provides criminals with everything they need to impersonal individuals. This can damage their financial well-being. This level of identity theft can have long-lasting consequences for victims. They may spend years trying to undo the damage and restore their credit.
Advice for Affected Consumers
In the aftermath of this massive data breach, NPD’s official guidance for affected individuals is to closely monitor their financial accounts. They also should monitor their credit reports for any suspicious activity. Identity theft victims ought to think about freezing their credit reports. By doing so, scamsters may be discouraged from creating additional accounts in their names.
Additionally, consumers should be vigilant for phishing attempts and other scams that may try to exploit the stolen information. Those impacted by the NPD breach must take proactive steps to protect their identity and financial well-being. This is due to the possibility that the effects of the data breach will be extensive and long-lasting.