National Public Data Breach
What You Need to Know and How to Protect Yourself
Welp, here we go again. Another massive data breach has hit the news, and this time it’s courtesy of a company you’ve probably never heard of—National Public Data. But don’t let that fool you. Even if you didn’t know they existed, they might have been quietly messing with your life, as a proposed class action lawsuit claims they’ve exposed a whopping 2.9 billion personal records. That’s billion, with a "B."
Here’s the scoop on what’s going down and how you can protect yourself from the fallout.
What Happened?
National Public Data, a background check company, recently announced a data breach that has potentially exposed billions of personal records. That's right, 2.9 billion records just floating around out there. While they were busy being mysterious and low-profile, hackers were apparently busy too—allegedly making off with a massive amount of sensitive information.
So, what can you do to protect yourself now that your personal data might be out there (like an embarrassing Facebook post from 2009 😉)?
What Can You Do to Protect Yourself?
1. Freeze, Don’t Lock
First things first—get your credit on lockdown, but not literally. What you need is a credit freeze, not a credit lock. A credit freeze is free, while a credit lock is a paid service, so make sure you know the difference.
Here’s how to get started:
- Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
- Experian: 1-888-397-3742
- TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
A credit freeze blocks access to your records, making it harder for bad actors to open new accounts in your name. Just remember, if you plan on applying for a new credit card or loan, you’ll need to unfreeze your credit temporarily—because life is full of compromises.
2. Change Your Passwords
If you’re guilty of reusing passwords across multiple sites (no judgment here, we’ve all been there), now’s the time to mix things up. Change all your passwords, especially if they’re older than the leftovers in the back of your fridge.
Pro tip: Enable multi-factor authentication on your accounts. It’s like adding a second deadbolt to your door—just in case.
3. Be Smart About Your Social Security Number
Stop carrying your Social Security card around like it’s a membership card for your favorite coffee shop. Keep it safe at home. Also, be picky about who gets your SSN. If someone asks for it, make sure they actually need it—like, really need it.
4. Watch Out for Scammers
Scammers love pretending to be official, so if you get a call, text, or email from someone claiming to be from Social Security, be skeptical. Hang up, ignore, and report the scam. The real Social Security Administration (SSA) is there to help, and you can visit their site for tips on avoiding scams.
🔊 Shout Out: We want to make sure we note that the SSA is helping clear up any confusion on their site as a public service [LINK THAT], but neither of the SSA’s internal systems or data have been compromised.
5. Check for Updates and Potential Class Actions
As this breach unfolds, there may be class action lawsuits that pop up. Keep an eye out for updates, and stay tuned—because we’ve got your back.
And remember: Stay vigilant, protect your data, and check back with us for the latest updates. This data breach might be massive, but with the right precautions, you can stay one step ahead of the bad guys.
If you have any questions or just want to vent, hit us up at info@classactconnect.com.
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