CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) – A recent data breach may have compromised the Social Security numbers of millions of Americans, and many people are wondering what that means for them.
The breach occurred after a group of hackers reportedly stole billions of records from background checking company National Public Data, and a leaked version of the stolen data was subsequently posted on a free hacker forum.
Check if you are affected
To determine if a person’s information has been compromised, there are several reputable websites that people can check to see if they have been affected. NPDBreach.com And NPD.pentester.com are two of them.
If a person realizes that their data has been stolen, there are a few simple steps to take next.
Anyone affected by the breach can freeze their credit by one of the three major offices:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
This will prevent potential creditors from accessing the reports and make it harder for fraudsters to open new accounts using stolen information. It can also be an opportunity to develop good habits, including regularly monitoring your credit score. The credit bureaus can provide free credit reports to individuals.
Lenny Gusel, a top expert in financial crime prevention at the data science company Feedzaisaid the latest breach would not be the last time such a thing happens.
“We’ve reached a point where it’s statistically very likely that we’re all at risk, or can be, of having our personal information (used) … and of criminals trying to use it to open various types of accounts and services in our name,” he said.
–> Back: Millions of US Social Security Numbers Hacked: What You Should Know
Gusel also said that everyone should strive to reduce the influence of the people with whom information is shared.
As an additional security measure – especially with so many digital subscriptions – it is important not to use the same passwords for everything and to set up multi-factor authentication.
For more information on reporting and protecting yourself from potential fraud, see: Here.
Related: Expert warns of common moving scams in Charlotte and gives tips on how to avoid them
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