We get it. Data breaches, cyber-attacks, ransomware events are no longer the exception; they are the rule. Not a day goes by that you don’t hear about some type of cyber-security related event. In some respects, we start to tune out these events because they are so commonplace and more often than not, they do not directly impact you.
This is not the case with the National Public Data breach as there is a good chance your data, including social security number, date of birth, and previous name(s) have been compromised. First identified in August 2024, this breach includes approximately 2.7 billion records, and the exposed information could be used by cybercriminals to impersonate victims, conduct phishing attacks, or even commit financial fraud.
Also, unlike some other events, this breach also contains a large amount of historical data on individuals including old addresses and phone numbers. So, if you lived in “Any City, Kansas” in 1998, then it might have that old address as well as your current address in this database. This introduces risks because it is not uncommon for credit checks and other identity verification systems to verify places where you have previously lived in order to grant you access to certain resources, so this breach will likely make certain types of verification systems more trivial to bypass.
So, what does this mean for you (and your business)?
Your personal information:
- Freeze your credit: If you're not planning a big purchase in the near future, consider freezing your credit. Don't pay a fee to a company to do this, it's easy enough to do yourself and (for most people) can be done entirely online. Check out this guide from usa.gov.
- Get a copy of your current credit report: Obtain a free copy of your credit report as a baseline. Sign up for free weekly credit reports and make sure there isn't anything new on it that you didn't authorize.
- Stay alert: Be extra cautious about emails, text messages, and phone calls you receive in the coming months. Scammers can use personal details like those in the NPD breach to craft more believable scams. If you have elderly parents or relatives, make sure you talk to them about the types of scams – like tech support and fake IRS audits – that are rampant these days, and ensure they never transfer money without verifying the claims with a trusted party. You can also set up transaction monitoring and threshold alerts to receive notifications about suspicious credit card and bank account activity.
Your business:
- Be proactive about protecting you and your customer’s data. Implement strong, layered security measures, including continuous monitoring for compromised credentials and automated tools to detect and respond to threats in real time.
- Human error is often the weakest link in cybersecurity so the time is now to educate your employees about the risks of social engineering and phishing.
The bottom line is you need to stay informed. This breach is serious, and your data might already be in the hands of hackers. Stay updated on any new developments and take action to protect yourself. If you’re unsure what to do, we are here to help! Contact us by visiting www.cti-mi.com or calling 248-362-3800.
