We’re still getting more information on this, but at the time of writing this, every American can assume that their social security number has been stolen. Let’s share what we know so far.

Hackers May Have Stolen Every Social Security Number in America

Cybersecurity is a constant battle for businesses and individuals. We've long emphasized the importance of safeguarding your data and ensuring robust cybersecurity measures—because cyberthreats can lead to downtime, hefty ransomware demands, data theft, lawsuits, and public embarrassment.

As of August 15th, reports indicate that 2.7 billion records were stolen from National Public Data.

The hacking group, USDoD, claims responsibility for the breach and initially attempted to sell the data for $3.5 million. Now, they've posted most of it for free on the dark web. According to them, these 2.7 billion records contain the personal information of every citizen from the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom. However, given the combined population of these countries is around 440 million, the data likely includes duplicates or multiple records per individual.

Several news outlets and cybersecurity experts have reviewed the data and believe it to be authentic.

What's in the Stolen Data?

Based on current information, each record includes:

• Name
• Mailing Address
• Social Security Number
• Additional personal details

It’s unclear whether Canadian Social Insurance Numbers or U.K. National Insurance Numbers were compromised. Previous leaks from this data set included phone numbers and email addresses, but these have not been published on the dark web yet. However, it’s likely the hackers possess this information too.

In short, we're facing a major cybersecurity crisis.

How Can You Protect Your Identity?

First and foremost, don’t panic. While this breach is significant, if the data is as extensive as claimed, we’re all in the same situation. In a strange way, that’s a bit of good news.

More positive news is that the data might be outdated, possibly containing incorrect addresses or other details. However, with a breach of this scale, there’s a good chance some of your personal information has been leaked.

Steps to Take Now:

1. Freeze Your Credit Files at Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. This will prevent anyone from opening a credit card or financial account in your name.
2. Stay Vigilant. With 2.7 billion records exposed, the chances of a cybercriminal using your specific information are slim, but it’s wise to be cautious.

The biggest concern now is the ease with which cybercriminals and scammers can operate. With the names, addresses, phone numbers, and other information of virtually everyone in the US, UK, and Canada now accessible, we’re likely to see an increase in scams, phishing attacks, and more.

The coming months will be challenging.

Strengthen Your Cybersecurity Now

Now is the time to bolster your organization's cybersecurity. Get a cybersecurity audit, consult with us to ensure your systems are secure, and train your staff on identifying and mitigating threats. It’s going to be a wild world out there—don’t wait until it’s too late.

Contact InTegriLogic Corp at 520-545-0691 to get started.