National Public Data is a data broker company that performs employee background checks. Their primary service is collecting information from public data sources, including criminal records, addresses, and employment history, and offering that information for sale.
National Public Data suffered a significant breach in April, affecting 3 billion records. The data included full names, current and past addresses, Social Security numbers, information regarding relatives, and other personal data related to people living in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
Why could this breach be different? Some of the data hacked also concerns relationships. Who are your family members? Who are the people you’ve worked with? The advancement and use of artificial intelligence make this event even more significant and problematic. A cybercriminal can use this data to help impersonate a loved one, co-worker, or former co-worker and use those relationships to target you through phone, text, and email scams.
Exactly how many Americans were impacted is unclear, but cybersecurity experts believe it’s possibly millions. LibertyID urges people to monitor their credit, financial history, and transactions. Stay vigilant and apply your digital street smarts. Utilize the best available technology and subscribe to services that monitor whether your information has been leaked to the dark web, where cybercriminals can use it for various attacks.
Most importantly, establish a relationship with a reputable provider who can fully manage the restoration efforts if identity theft occurs, providing you with the know-how, support, and reassurance needed in such a situation.