Technology
Major hack may have stolen every American's Social Security number
A hacking group known as USDoD claimed responsibility for a significant data breach, stealing 2.7 billion records of personal information, including Social Security numbers and physical addresses, from National Public Data (NPD).
The NPD platform provides personal data for background checks to employers, private investigators, and staffing agencies.
The breach, which was first reported in April, has led to large amounts of sensitive information being leaked on online forums for stolen data.
USDoD originally attempted to sell the stolen database, which included personal records from the US, UK, and Canada, for $3.5 million on hacker forums.
However, portions of the data have been leaked by various entities, exacerbating the potential for identity theft and other fraudulent activities.
To safeguard against potential misuse of their information, individuals are advised to monitor their credit reports for any suspicious activity and report any issues to credit bureaus like Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
Consumers have been requested to freeze their credit accounts to prevent unauthorized loans or credit card applications.
Additionally, US individuals have been tasked to strengthen their online security by managing passwords carefully, enabling two-factor authentication, and regularly updating passwords.
Monitoring services that track personal information and activity on the dark web can also provide added protection against identity theft.
-
Technology1h ago
Astronomers have warned against colonial practices in the space industry − a philosopher of science explains how the industry could explore other planets without exploiting them
-
Technology1h ago
Could we use volcanoes to make electricity?
-
Technology5h ago
These 'living computers' are made from human neurons — and you can rent one for $500 a month
-
Technology2d ago
ChatGPT is truly awful at diagnosing medical conditions
-
Technology2d ago
World's fastest charger can fully power up your smartphone in under 5 minutes
-
Technology2d ago
Banana apocalypse, part 2 – a genomicist explains the tricky genetics of the fungus devastating bananas worldwide
-
Technology2d ago
Exclusive: Renowned Experts Pen Support for California’s Landmark AI Safety Bill
-
Technology2d ago
Editing fetal genomes is on the horizon − a medical anthropologist explains why ethical discussions with the target communities should happen sooner rather than later