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[Mistake]

Hackers leak 2.7 billion data records with Social Security numbers

Almost 2.7 billion records of personal information for people in the United States were leaked on a hacking forum, exposing names, social security numbers, all known physical addresses, and possible aliases.

www.bleepingcomputer.com

The data allegedly comes from National Public Data, a company that collects and sells access to personal data for use in background checks, to obtain criminal records, and for private investigators.

Each record consists of the following information - a person's name, mailing addresses, and social security number, with some records including additional information, like other names associated with the person. None of this data is encrypted.

Previously leaked samples of this data also included phone numbers and email addresses, but these are not included in this 2.7 billion record leak.

Just came across this. What a mess. I recommend changing phone numbers if possible and keeping an eye on your credit. This information can easily be used for title fraud or opening bank accounts. Also beware of an uptick of phishing attacks

 

[dorkimoe]

I don’t even know why we bother protecting our stuff anymore. A new system is gonna need to be created for identifying yourself.

I keep my credit frozen and just unfreeze it when I need to.

Shocking it was a person with a weeb avatar

 

[mitch1971]

I've got no money. I win.

 

[Thaedolus]

At the very least have notifications on for whenever someone pings your credit or tries to open a new account. Best to keep them frozen until you need a loan

 

[jason10mm]

Hah, jokes on them, I'm already using a fake ID as part of my witness protection deal...oh wait

 

[Mistake]

I just did a search to see what stuff of mine is online. Turns out you can get a lot more info on people searching a phone number than a person's name, but I suppose that's not much different than phonebooks used to be However my address isn't current. As for socials, I already assumed that's gone with the equifax breach a while back.

I'll be freezing my transunion and equifax later, if I can even access them. Last time I tried I couldn't verify. Seems most businesses use experian these days though

 

[ForAcademicPurposes]

I hope that they enjoy my memes that I've bookmarked over the years.

 

[Laptop1991]

Everything get's hacked in the end anyway!.

 

[adamsapple]

Again?

fucking hell upgrade your IT ..

 

[poppabk]

Apparently the data is a mess, it's data gleaned from other sources and isn't necessarily correct.

 

[Mistake]

Apparently the data is a mess, it's data gleaned from other sources and isn't necessarily correct.

That's only because the hack originally happened in april, so a lot of information won't be current. A lot is still useful. Background check companies also get info from various sources, so that's not unusual either

 

[poppabk]

That's only because the hack originally happened in april, so a lot of information won't be current. A lot is still useful. Background check companies also get info from various sources, so that's not unusual either

No I mean the article I read the data isn't necessarily accurate.

Inside the "3 Billion People" National Public Data Breach

I decided to write this post because there's no concise way to explain the nuances of what's being described as one of the largest data breaches ever. Usually, it's easy to articulate a data breach; a service people provide their information to had someone snag it through an act of

www.troyhunt.com

 

[Haint]

The credit bureau themself, Experion or whoever, already leaked this shit on billions of people a few years ago. Why is this news, thieves and hackers already have this information on you.

 

[YCoCg]

And zero accountability or blame to be had. We really are at the mercy of corporate overlords.

 

[rapid32.5]

Don’t be surprised if you already voted, but it wasn’t you.

 

[YCoCg]

Don’t be surprised if you already voted, but it wasn’t you.

Oh FFS, this is a serious issue of corporate and business incompetence that affects citizens on a grand scale and your first thought is politics?

 

[cormack12]

Oh thank fuck. Please keep them, I dint want it back

 

[BadBurger]

I never felt the need to freeze my credit with the three bureaus until now. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[ReBurn]

I don’t even know why we bother protecting our stuff anymore. A new system is gonna need to be created for identifying yourself.

I keep my credit frozen and just unfreeze it when I need to.

Shocking it was a person with a weeb avatar

Seriously, we're beyond the point where it's possible to keep sensitive data private. We need to be focusing more effort on preventing the use of the data once it's stolen so that it's not valuable. Systems that corporations and governments use to verify identity are terribly insufficient.

 

[EverydayBeast]

Hacking social security is a big deal for people who don't have money to spend.

 

[Dirk Benedict]

I found I wasn’t in it, thankfully. My Mom and her husband are, though. I had them setup new passwords and 2fa on everything and freeze their credit files from all 3 bureaus. We’re bracing for the inevitable. Oh, while I was not in it, my dead Father was. Also the 3 billion people is fucking stupid misreporting. Probably several hundred million, if I had to guess, there are multiple instances for single individuals. So the numbers being reported as 3 billion people is laughable.

 

[Quasicat]

I just did a search to see what stuff of mine is online. Turns out you can get a lot more info on people searching a phone number than a person's name, but I suppose that's not much different than phonebooks used to be However my address isn't current. As for socials, I already assumed that's gone with the equifax breach a while back.

I'll be freezing my transunion and equifax later, if I can even access them. Last time I tried I couldn't verify. Seems most businesses use experian these days though

Yeah…for me it was Anthem. My district had them as an insurance carrier for one year and my stuff leaked out all over the internet. At least my wife and kids numbers were safe from that one...but it’s probably happened through other leaks.

 

[CuckooBananaNuts]

I don’t even know why we bother protecting our stuff anymore. A new system is gonna need to be created for identifying yourself.

It's getting pretty insane. The ransomware is becoming stupid as well.

I keep my credit frozen and just unfreeze it when I need to.

This is the best thing to do. At the very least, nobody can open new lines of credit with your SS#.