A hacking group identified as USDoD has claimed responsibility for a major data breach that reportedly occurred several months ago. The breach involved the theft of personal data from National Public Data (NPD), a data broker, resulting in the compromise of approximately 2.7 billion records containing sensitive information such as Social Security numbers and physical addresses of American individuals.
According to Engadget, citing Bleeping Computer, a member of the hacking group recently uploaded most of the stolen data to a website dedicated to leaked information. The group has put a price of $3.5 million on the complete database. The compromised information reportedly affects individuals in the US, UK, and Canada.
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NPD, as described in a class-action lawsuit filed in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is a platform used for background checks by employers, private investigators, employment agencies, and other businesses. The lawsuit alleges that NPD’s role was crucial in the hack.
The breach is associated with earlier incidents involving email addresses and phone numbers, though these details were not part of the most recent breach. The latest hack primarily exposed addresses and Social Security numbers.
To protect against potential misuse of personal information, individuals are advised to monitor their credit reports for signs of fraud. If suspicious activity is detected, it is important to contact the credit bureaus Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion immediately. Individuals can also request a freeze on their credit accounts to prevent unauthorized access to financial information. Additionally, using identity theft protection services, employing two-factor authentication for online accounts, and regularly updating passwords can help safeguard against identity theft.
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