National Public Data Hack: A Massive Breach

Maybe you’ve heard recently about the National Public Data hack. This company is a third party data broker who has amassed, stored, sold, and now had stolen, billions of records of sensitive personal data.

While authorities are still investigating this security, many analysts believe that if you have a social security number, it is likely online for bad actors to access.

If you’re noticing an uptick in scammer, bot, and spam phishing in recent days, it’s because there is an army of scammers trying to validate and monetize this vast amount of sensitive information

The breach was a result of a security vulnerability in the systems of National Public Data. This data broker has access to a vast amount of personal information it collects from various sources. The exposure of this data has led to widespread concerns about identity theft, fraud, and other potential risks.

Stolen Data in National Public Data Hack

• Social Security numbers
• Full names
• Phone numbers
• Current and past addresses

Key points to remember:

• Massive scale: The breach affects a significant portion of the US population.
• Sensitive data: The leaked information was highly sensitive and will used for malicious purposes.
• Identity theft risk: Individuals whose data is exposed are at an increased risk of identity theft.
• Ongoing investigation: Authorities and National Public Data are still investigating the hack to determine the cause and extent of the breach.

Be Proactive Protect Your Accounts

If you believe your personal information may have been compromised in the National Public Data hack, it’s important to take steps to protect yourself. This may include:

• Monitoring your accounts: Keep a close eye on your bank statements, credit reports, and other financial activity.
• Using two factor authentication(2FA): If your password is the key to unlock your accounts, 2FA is the deadbolt. Use it on all of your important accounts.
• Freezing your credit: Consider freezing your credit to prevent bad actors from opening new accounts.
• Changing passwords: Update your passwords for online accounts, especially those that use your Social Security number or other compromised information.

Threat Awareness

Threat actors will be coming at you from many directions.

Pay close attention to emails and text messages that may slip through spam filters. Superficially, they may look official or correct. But upon close inspection, are phishing and/or malware delivery mechanisms. Report suspicious emails as spam or phishing to your email provider.

Comments, messages, and posts on social media are rife with scammers. Do not post personal or sensitive information on social media.

Have Questions or Need Help?

As a small business owner, I know there are a thousand different things pulling for your attention as a business owner. If you need a basic digital security audit or have questions about hardening your digital security stance, please schedule a consultation. If you need advanced security help, I can direct you to reputable resources based on your situation.

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