In what may be the most bonkers news to happen this year, billions of Americans had their most personal, sensitive info swiped by hackers late last year — and this massive breach wasn’t announced until just last week. The devastating data leak at the hands of National Public Data is a nightmare, exposing three decades’ worth of Social Security numbers on the online black market. Yep, it’s as bad as it sounds.
So, what now? Well, don’t hold your breath for financial compensation just yet. But if you want to know if you’re one of the unlucky millions, and how to shield yourself from the fallout, we’ve got you.
Social Security breach check
Pentester, a cybersecurity firm, launched a tool that lets you check if your data was caught up in a recent breach. To find out, visit npd.pentester.com, enter your first and last name, along with your birth year, and you’ll get a list of any breached accounts associated with you.
The tool even shows the last four digits of the compromised Social Security numbers, making it easier to confirm if your information is at risk.
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How to protect yourself if you’re breached
If you’ve checked Pentester’s website and discovered that you’re one of the billions affected by the breach, here’s what the NPD recommends to protect your identity:
1. Financial monitoring – NPD advises taking a closer look at your bank accounts, ensuring everything is in order. While this might seem like a no-brainer, the reality is that many Americans don’t scrutinize every line item on their credit and debit card statements, which leaves room for fraudulent charges to slip through unnoticed.
2. Credit monitoring – Set up credit monitoring with one or all of the major credit bureaus, including Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. This way, you’ll get alerts for any suspicious activity, like new or existing accounts being opened in your name.
3. Consider a credit freeze – Instituting a credit freeze is like hitting a big red button. It stops 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 floating around in the cybercrime underworld. But they’re practical measures you can take to safeguard your finances and protect yourself from future headaches.