In a digital landscape fraught with threats, the recent breach involving the theft of 2.9 billion Social Security Numbers (SSNs) from National Public Data has sent shockwaves across the nation. At Hummingbird.tech, we understand the gravity of this situation and are here to provide essential information and actionable steps to safeguard your identity.
The National Public Data breach is among the largest data breaches in history, compromising 2.9 billion SSNs. This unprecedented event has exposed sensitive information on a massive scale, leaving millions vulnerable to identity theft and fraud. Initial reports suggest that a sophisticated cyberattack targeted the database containing these records. The stolen data includes SSNs and other personal details such as names, addresses, and dates of birth.
Your SSN is a critical component of your identity, used for everything from opening bank accounts to filing taxes. When this data falls into the wrong hands, the risks are significant. Fraudsters can open credit accounts, commit tax fraud, and engage in other criminal activities using your identity.
To check if you were compromised, check your credit report for any action, place a fraud alert on all your accounts, freeze your credit as needed, and enroll in identity theft protection immediately.
While you can’t undo the breach, you can take proactive measures to safeguard your identity:
This could happen to anyone in your business and if it happens to someone in a leadership role, your business is now at risk as well.
The National Public Data breach underscores the importance of staying vigilant in our digital world. As IT and cybersecurity professionals, we’re here to help you protect your personal information and navigate the complexities of identity theft prevention. If you have any questions or need support, our team is just a call away.