Massive Data Breach Exposes Social Security Numbers of Millions: What You Need to Know
Massive Data Breach Exposes Social Security Numbers of Millions: What You Need to Know
National Public Data, a company that manages background checks, was subject to a major data breach where the Social Security numbers of over 270 million Americans were exposed – this is about 75% of the United States!
This breach occurred in December 2023 in Cleveland, where SSNs, names, email addresses, phone numbers, and mailing addresses were also leaked.
The leakage of SSNs caused significant concern amongst experts, as this is what leads to identity theft by criminals. A cybersecurity expert, Steve Stransky, at Thompson Hine, said, “When criminals have access to an individual’s Social Security number, they can open fraudulent accounts and cause serious financial damage.” According to him, this is one of the largest breaches that have occurred in recent years, especially due to the capacity of the data lost.
He also recommends that if an individual suspects that they’ve been affected by a breach, they should immediately freeze their credit, “A credit freeze is free and prevents criminals from opening accounts in your name.” This is a crucial step when victimized by such a breach, as it can limit the damage that can be caused.
Cleveland residents were horrified. One of the residents, Evan Tokatyan raised his concerns, saying, “Your Social Security number is used for everything,” and it’s nothing but the truth! Your job applications, and credit card sign-ups – all would require your SSN. Another resident who had previously been victimized to identity theft expressed that many people don’t know how exposed they are until it gets too late.
While this breach caused a loss for many, it is also a reminder to the public of how sensitive their personal information is in an increasingly digitalized world. Since millions of Social Security numbers were exposed, the consequences of this breach could be disastrous. Therefore, if you haven’t already taken the steps to secure your identity, now might be the time to do so. If you ever feel slightly alert, consider freezing your credit followed by regularly checking your credit report.
Data privacy and security may not be the most common conversation among individuals, but in today’s age, it should be. Both individuals and organizations must take proactive steps toward protecting vulnerable information – because once it’s out there, it might be the worst possible situation to be in.
New motto for 2025 – stay alert, stay protected!
For expert advice, contact Shayne Bevilacqua at Professional Liability Insurance Group.
Call or Text us at +1 (877) PLIG – 123, That’s (877) 754 – 4123.
