Who:
Victim: National Public Data, a Florida-based background check company operated by Jerico Pictures, Inc.
Perpetrators: Hacking group USDoD
What:
Incident: A massive data breach involving 277.1 gigabytes of sensitive information, including Social Security numbers, names, address histories, and relatives' information dating back at least 30 years. The hacking group USDoD claims to have stolen personal records of 2.9 billion people, which includes citizens of the U.S., U.K., and Canada.
Data Exposure: The stolen data has been posted for sale on the dark web for $3.5 million. Subsequently, a hacker known as "Fenice" leaked a complete version of the data for free on a forum in August 2023.
Impact:
Scale: The breach affects an unprecedented number of individuals, potentially exposing billions of personal records, including Social Security numbers, which could lead to widespread identity theft and fraud.
Response: National Public Data has not publicly confirmed the breach but acknowledged awareness of the situation and is investigating. Affected individuals are advised to take steps to protect themselves, including updating passwords, enabling multifactor authentication, and monitoring credit reports for suspicious activity.
Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself:
Monitor Your Accounts: Regularly check your bank and credit card statements for any unusual activity.
Credit Freeze: Consider placing a freeze on your credit reports with the major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). This prevents new accounts from being opened in your name.
Fraud Alerts: Place a fraud alert on your credit report to make it harder for identity thieves to open accounts in your name.
Identity Theft Protection: Enroll in an identity theft protection service that can monitor your personal information and alert you to suspicious activity.
Report Suspicious Activity: If you notice any unauthorized transactions or accounts, report them immediately to your financial institutions and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Taking these steps can help mitigate the risk of identity theft and protect your personal information.
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