In what may be the most bizarre news of the year, hackers stole billions of Americans’ most personal and sensitive information late last year — and the colossal breach was just revealed last week.
The tragic data dump by National Public Data is a nightmare, revealing three decades’ worth of Social Security numbers on the web black market. Yes, it is as horrible as it sounds.
So, what happens now? Don’t expect financial compensation just now. But if you want to discover if you’re one of the unlucky millions, and how to protect yourself from the consequences, we’ve got you covered.
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Check for social security breaches.
Pentester, a cybersecurity business, has released a tool that allows you to see if your data was compromised in a recent attack. To find out, go to npd.pentester.com, input your first and last name, as well as your birth year, and you’ll see a list of all breached accounts associated with you.
The application even displays the final four digits of compromised Social Security numbers, making it easier to determine whether your information is at risk.
How to Protect Yourself If You’re Breached
If you viewed Pentester’s website and realized that you are one of the billions affected by the breach, the NPD recommends the following steps to protect your identity:
- Financial monitoring – NPD recommends having a closer check at your bank accounts to ensure everything is in order. While this may appear to be a no-brainer, many Americans fail to analyze every line item on their credit and debit card bills, allowing fraudulent payments to go unreported.
- Set up credit monitoring with one or more of the main credit bureaus, such as Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. This way, you’ll receive notifications about any questionable behavior, such as new or existing accounts being opened in your name.
- Consider a credit freeze – Setting up a credit freeze is similar to pressing a large red button. It prevents new credit accounts from being started in your name without your specific consent.
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Of course, none of these procedures will change the reality that your Social Security number is already circulating in the cybercrime underworld. However, these are real steps you can take to protect your finances and yourself from potential problems.
Chance Townsend, an Assistant Editor at Mashable, is now based in Chicago, Illinois, and covers technology, entertainment, dating apps, and whatever else comes his way. He holds a Master of Journalism degree from the University of North Texas and is the proud parent of one orange cat.
In his spare time, he cooks, sleeps a lot, and “enjoys” watching the Lions and Pistons crush his heart each week. If you have any stories, tips, recipes, or want to talk about Detroit sports, you can contact him at chance.townsend@ziffmedia.com
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