A security breach has put many social security numbers at risk.
Bloomberg reports that background check company Jerico Pictures Inc., doing business as National Public Data, revealed sensitive information for nearly 3 billion people in April 2024. Hacking group USDoD reportedly stole and released that data on the dark web under “National Public Data.”
This was brought forward in a class-action lawsuit filed in April 2024 in the U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale, FL, which also mentioned the information had been up for grabs for $3.5 million, according to Bloomberg.
Per the complaint, this data includes sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, complete names, family information, and addresses that date back several decades.
According to U.S. Public Information Research Group Consumer Watchdog Director Teresa Murray, the compromise could now leave many at risk of crimes such as identity theft and fraud, The Los Angeles Times reports.
“If this, in fact, is pretty much the whole dossier on all of us, it certainly is much more concerning” than prior breaches, Murray said in an interview, per The Los Angeles Times. “And if people weren’t taking precautions in the past, which they should have been doing, this should be a five-alarm wake-up call for them.”
The Los Angeles Times states that National Public Data has not publicly addressed the matter but has been responding to those who emailed, stating that “we are aware of certain third-party claims about consumer data and are investigating these issues.”
It also explained some of its action plans via email, stating it “purged the entire database, as a whole, of any and all entries, essentially opting everyone out.” This included deleting “non-public personal information” regarding individuals. However, they did add, “We may be required to retain certain records to comply with legal obligations.”
For those who fear they will be impacted by the breach, there are several options. According to experts, individuals can freeze their credit files at Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion and monitor their accounts to detect any suspicious activity. For existing accounts, consider strong passwords and setting up two-factor authentication.
