In what may be the craziest news we’ve heard in 2024, hackers stole billions of Americans’ most personal and sensitive information earlier this year, and the leak wasn’t made public until August. The devastating data leak by National Public Data was a nightmare, with 30 years’ worth of Social Security numbers leaking onto online black markets.
Yes, it sounds bad.
So what to do now? Well, don’t expect any financial compensation just yet. But if you are one of the unlucky millions and want to know how to protect yourself from its consequences, we are here to help.
Social Security number compromised: 7 steps to take if yours is a victim, according to the Social Security Administration
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Social Security Violation Check
Cybersecurity company Pentester has released a tool that allows you to check if your data was caught up in a recent breach. To do so, go to npd.pentester.com, enter your first name, last name and date of birth, and you’ll be shown a list of compromised accounts associated with you.
The tool also displays the last four digits of compromised Social Security numbers, making it easier to see if your information has been compromised.
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How to protect yourself if you are broken into
If you check out the Pentester website and find out you’re one of the billions affected by the breach, here are the steps NPD recommends to protect your personal information.
1. Financial Oversight – NPD advises taking a closer look at your bank accounts to make sure everything is in order. This may seem like an obvious thing to do, but the reality is that many Americans don’t scrutinize every line item on their credit or debit card statements, leaving room for fraudulent charges to slip in without them realizing.
2. Credit Monitoring – Set up credit monitoring with one or all of the major credit reporting agencies, such as Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. That way, you’ll be alerted to any suspicious activity, such as new or existing accounts being opened in your name.
3. Consider a credit freeze – Putting a credit freeze in place is like hitting a big red button — it prevents any new credit from being opened in your name without your explicit permission.
Of course, none of these steps will erase the fact that your Social Security number is now out there in the dark world of cybercrime, but they are practical steps you can take to protect your finances and save yourself from future headaches.
