Hack claimed by USDoD may have stolen every American’s Social Security number
The breach, first reported in April, led to large amounts of sensitive information being leaked on online forums
A hacking group identified as USDoD has claimed responsibility for a major data breach, compromising 2.7 billion personal records from National Public Data (NPD). The stolen information includes Social Security numbers and physical addresses.
NPD is a platform that supplies personal data for background checks used by employers, private investigators, and staffing agencies. The breach, first reported in April, has resulted in a substantial amount of this sensitive data being leaked on online forums dedicated to stolen information.
Initially, USDoD attempted to sell the stolen database, which contains records from the US, UK, and Canada, for $3.5 million on hacker forums. Since then, portions of the data have been distributed by various sources, increasing the risk of identity theft and other forms of fraud.
To protect themselves from potential misuse of their information, individuals are advised to closely monitor their credit reports for any unusual activity and to report any concerns to major credit bureaus like Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Freezing credit accounts is also recommended to prevent unauthorized credit card applications or loans.
In addition to these measures, individuals are encouraged to enhance their online security by managing passwords carefully, using two-factor authentication, and regularly updating passwords. Utilizing monitoring services that track personal information and activity on the dark web can also offer added protection against identity theft.
