Social Security Data Breach Lawsuit: What You Need to Know

Overview

A new lawsuit alleges that hackers have accessed the personal information of billions of individuals, including Social Security numbers, addresses, and family member names. This breach could lead to fraudulent activities such as financial account infiltration and fund theft. The lawsuit was filed by California resident Christopher Hofmann, who discovered his information had been compromised by “nationalpublicdata.com” and leaked to the dark web.

Details of the Breach

The breach, which reportedly occurred in April 2024, involved a hacker group known as USDoD stealing unencrypted personal data from a background check company called National Public Data (NPD). The hacker leaked a version of the stolen information on a hacker forum, claiming it contained 2.7 billion records with details like full names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and phone numbers. NPD has not responded to requests for comment.

Implications and Response

The lawsuit accuses NPD of failing to notify affected individuals about the breach, putting them at risk of identity theft and other damages. Security experts recommend freezing credit files at major bureaus, monitoring for dark web appearances of personal data, and enabling two-factor authentication to enhance account security.

By addressing these key points, individuals can take proactive steps to protect their information in the wake of this significant data breach.