What are some common questions about the National Public Data breach and whether Social Security numbers were stolen?

• A potential vulnerability of billions of personal financial records could have resulted from a data breach by National Public Data.
• Numerous individuals in the United States are questioning whether they have been impacted and what steps to take now.
• Some of the biggest questions on the breach are responded to by experts.

Despite being unfamiliar with National Public Data, your personal information may have been exposed in their recent large-scale data breach.

The breach at the background check company, owned by Jerico Pictures Inc., has led to the release of details about the potential exposure of 2.9 billion personal records. However, other reports suggest that the actual number of records leaked may be higher, at more than 2.7 billion.

National Public Data reported in an official data breach notice in Maine that 1.3 million records may have been compromised, according to James E. Lee, chief operating officer at Identity Theft Resource Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to minimizing the risks of identity breaches and theft.

"It is entirely possible that the number of people affected is that low, but it's also entirely possible it's higher," Lee stated.

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The breach of information may have exposed Social Security numbers, names, email addresses, phone numbers, and mailing addresses, according to National Public Data's website.

The company stated on its website that a third-party bad actor may have hacked into its data in December, with potential leaks of the information in April and over the summer. National Public Data did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

Lee stated that the data breach uncovered nothing new, as much of the information was already accessible.

The breach news serves as a reminder for experts to advise consumers on how to safeguard their personal information. Here's a compilation of frequently asked questions regarding the matter.

Can you be affected even if you've never heard of National Public Data?

Yes, National Public Data is a background check company that gathers information either through legal sources or by scraping it off the web. Since the data is collected informally, it can be obtained without consumers' consent and outside of specific regulations. As a result, it may be inaccurate or outdated, according to Lee.

Companies can gather a picture of someone's identity by collecting and aggregating publicly available data, such as when they buy a house or pay property taxes, according to Cliff Steinhauer, director of information security and engagement at The National Cybersecurity Alliance.

Steinhauer stated that companies have varying levels of ability to protect the data they collect, and they may not be regulated to do so because it is considered public data.

Can you determine if your Social Security number has been compromised?

Some cyber groups have established websites to help people check if their personal data was compromised in the breach. NPDBreach.com enables a search using full name, zip code, Social Security number, or phone number, while NPD.pentester.com allows a search based on first name, last name, state, and birth year.

Lee advised against entering Social Security numbers in websites.

Lee stated that most people are discovering that information leaked is often inaccurate.

What is the best way to protect your personal information?

If you're included in the breach, the steps you should take are not necessarily new.

Lee stated, "You haven't done anything extra that you haven't already done or know how to do."

Ensure that you submit requests to each of the three major credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion - to have your credit frozen.

To apply for a new credit card or auto loan, you must either temporarily or permanently unfreeze your credit.

Be cautious when freezing your credit, ensuring you are on legitimate credit bureau websites to avoid falling victim to fraudulent look-alike sites.

To enhance security, it is recommended to change passwords, especially if they are used across multiple websites. Multi-factor authentication should be enabled on personal websites to safeguard financial data. Public internet should never be used to share personal information.

Is it worthwhile to pay for extra protection?

You can also buy extra security in addition to freezing your credit.

Opting out of data collection by sites like National Public Data can be challenging due to the numerous data brokers, according to Steinhauer. To simplify the process, consumers can use a data broker removal service that will contact the websites on their behalf.

Monitoring tools for identity theft will alert you if someone attempts to open an account under your personal information.

Monitoring services on the dark web can inform you if your data was exposed in a breach that was made public.

Can you receive compensation if you're impacted by the violation?

According to Lee, although legal organizations may promote the notion that monetary damages may be obtainable for individuals impacted by the breach, any eventual payments are unlikely to be substantial.

Lee stated that you won't earn much money.

In the aftermath of the 2017 Equifax breach, some consumers received lawsuit payouts of less than $3, while others reported receiving around $40.

The objective of solicitations is frequently to establish a multi-state, multi-jurisdiction class action lawsuit, which can combine several lawsuits.

Proving harm from a specific data breach can be challenging due to the numerous breaches that have occurred, according to Lee.