National Public Data Breach: What You Need to Know
What Happened?
In September 2024, National Public Data confirmed that a hacker had compromised the personal records of millions of individuals. The exposed information includes names, email addresses, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and even Social Security numbers of up to 2.9 billion people.
National Public Data, a consumer data broker specializing in criminal records, background checks, and other data for private investigators, consumer public record sites, human resources, staffing agencies, and the government, was hacked. The breach is believed to have begun in December 2023 when a third-party actor attempted to gain access.
In April, a cybercriminal known as "USDoD" posted the stolen data online in a popular criminal community. On August 6, the stolen dataset resurfaced, this time posted for free on several breach forums, making it accessible to anyone.
The compromised data includes names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and Social Security numbers of millions, including some deceased individuals. It also contains previous addresses and, in some cases, alternate names.
The official data breach notice filed in Maine indicated that 1.3 million records might have been breached. However, some lawsuits suggest that up to 2.9 billion records have been exposed.
As the investigation continues, many cyber experts have found that some of the released data is inaccurate. Aside from Social Security numbers, much of the information is already public and can be easily found online.
Why Is This Breach Dangerous?
Even if much of the information can be found through a quick Google search, having all this critical data in one place makes it easier for criminals to use it for malicious purposes. They can apply for credit cards, loans, or open new bank accounts using this information.
Details like childhood street names or the last four digits of Social Security numbers are often used as answers to security questions, helping hackers bypass authentication and access private accounts.
Cyber experts suggest watching for a surge in phishing and smishing (phishing via SMS) attacks as well.
Can You Be Affected Even If You've Never Heard of National Public Data?
Yes. Even if you haven't interacted with National Public Data, other organizations, businesses, landlords, etc., may have used their resources to gather information about you.
What Should You Do to Protect Yourself?
Step 1: Check if Your Data Has Been Exposed
Use tools like https://npd.pentester.com/ to find out if your information has been compromised. If it has, take immediate action.
Step 2: Request a Copy of Your Credit Report and Freeze Your Credit
One of the best ways to protect your identity is to freeze your credit and set up alerts. This prevents criminals from opening new lines of credit in your name. Contact all three major credit bureaus—Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian—to request a freeze. The process is free and should take less than 10 minutes per site to complete. If there are others in your household over the age of 18, it's a good idea to freeze their credit too. Anyone with a Social Security number is vulnerable following a breach of this size.
Once you have a copy of your free credit report, review it for any unauthorized activity. Set up alerts and review your credit regularly.
Step 3: Watch Out for Phishing Scams
Many cybercriminals will try to leverage this information to scam you through phone calls, text messages, emails, and even social media sites. Be cautious!
A data breach is devastating for everyone involved - the business hacked and the customers or employees whose data is leaked. As a business owner, it is your responsibility to make sure you are taking the highest precautions to protect your business and its data. If you want to do a full assessment and find out if any of your information has been leaked or if your network is vulnerable to a breach, we'll do a FREE Discovery Call. This deep dive into your network will provide you with a blueprint for security steps to take. To book yours, call our office at 802-331-1900 or click here.
