CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – Potentially millions of Americans’ Social Security numbers were compromised in a recent data breach, leaving many people wondering what that means for them.
The breach happened after a group of hackers reportedly stole billions of records from the background check company National Public Data, and a leaked version of the stolen data was then said to be posted to a free hacking forum.
To determine whether a person’s information was compromised, there are several reputable websites where people can look up whether they have been affected. NPDBreach.com and NPD.pentester.com are two of those.
If a person finds out their information was stolen, there are a few simple steps to take next.
Anyone impacted by the breach can freeze their credit through one of the big three bureaus: Equifax, Experian or TransUnion.
That prevents potential creditors from accessing reports, making it harder for bad actors to open new accounts with stolen information. It can also be an opportunity to create good habits, including monitoring credit on a regular basis. The credit bureaus can provide individuals with free credit reports.
Lenny Gusel, a top financial crime prevention expert at the data science company Feedzai, said the recent breach will not be the last time something like it happens.
“We’re at a point where it’s highly statistically likely that all of us are, can be, at risk for having our personal information [used]…and attempted by criminals to use it in order to open up various kinds of accounts and services in your name,” he said.
Gusel also said everyone should be making an effort to reduce the footprint of who information is shared with.
As an added measure of security, especially with all the many digital subscriptions, it is important to not use the same passwords for everything and to set up multifactor authentication.
For more on how to report and protect against potential fraud, click here.
Related: Expert warns of common moving scams in Charlotte, shares tips to avoid
Watch continuous news coverage here:
Copyright 2024 WBTV. All rights reserved.