National Public Data Confirms Data Breach Exposing Americans' Sensitive Information
National Public Data's Security Incident Confirmed
In a major revelation, National Public Data has confirmed a data breach that has exposed sensitive personal information, including social security numbers, of individuals residing in the US. The incident involved a staggering 2.7 billion records leaked online, linked to the company’s practices of scraping private data from non-public sources for background checks.
Details of the Breach: A Timeline of Events
The company reported that a malicious actor attempted to hack into its data systems in late December 2023, with evidence of data leaks surfacing in April and summer 2024. Notably, a threat actor known as USDoD attempted to sell the stolen records for $3.5 million, indicating potential security lapses within National Public Data’s security protocols.
Guidance for Affected Individuals
- Monitor financial accounts for suspicious activity.
- Request free credit reports to check for unauthorized access.
- Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit file.
Legal Actions and Accountability
In response to this incident, National Public Data is currently facing a proposed class action lawsuit, initiated by an individual alerted to their personal data being listed on the dark web. Plaintiffs argue that the company did not adequately safeguard sensitive information.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.