At the start of August, a hack at the company National Public Data resulted in the social security numbers of hundreds of Americans stolen. It is almost certain that this data will be used for cybercrime and could be for sale on the dark web. In this article, we discuss what was stolen and what could happen if it was your data.  

Do you know how safe your details and data are online? A major hack last week at the company National Public Data showed that even the largest companies are struggling to keep abreast with the increasing tide of cybercrime. This data will most likely be used for nefarious purposes or even sold on the dark web. Below, we discuss the National Public Data hack and what you can do to stay safe.  

What happened with the National Public Data hack?

National Public Data is a consumer data broker. Its records contained a vast amount of information that included addresses, social security numbers and cellphone numbers. The breach was discussed by internet users and then confirmed by the company at the start of August.  

The company is one of several that conduct criminal background checks. These can be purchased by anyone, usually employers and private investigators. As a result, they were storing a huge amount of personal data that could include the private details of almost every American citizen.  

However, this is not the first time it has happened. Attempts were made to access the data twice before this year, and once in December 2023. This begs the question of why internet security was not stepped up further.

What is the dark web?

The dark web is a secretive part of the internet. It is not indexed on conventional search engines like Google or Bing. While it does have plenty of practical uses, it is also very hard to police because of this. Thus, it is where a lot of criminal activity takes place, such as the selling of prohibited items and essentially, data.

It is extremely easy to come across thousands of details such as credit cards, phone numbers, names and addresses, which are sold there every day. With global cybercrime costing the US $10.5 trillion per annum with expectations it will rise 15% year upon year, this is a very lucrative trade.   

Thus, it is highly likely that this data will find its way onto the dark web. Here, it can be sold to the highest bidder. As so many pieces of information have been stolen, they may even be sold as part of a huge batch.  

From here, cybercriminals can use it for a range of purposes. The most obvious is buying goods and services using financial information, or assuming the identity of the people whose data they have bought.  

What can you do to keep your data safe online? 

When information is taken from a third party such as National Public Data, there is very little you as an individual can do to prevent it. However, there are ways to keep your data safer and make it more secure.  

The first is to check your browsing history to see if you have been on any websites that pose a security threat. Not all websites are created equal and some are open to data hacking as you browse them. Thus, when you check website safety you can see if you have been on any of these websites or visit them regularly. Once you know which ones they are, the best thing to do is avoid them and make sure you remove any personal and financial information you may have stored with them.  

After this, make sure you have quality antivirus software installed on your devices. Keep this updated, so it can regularly defend you against new and emerging threats. You should also regularly change all your passwords for any accounts you have on the web.  

What can you do about the data leak? 

The company has given out information on what you should do if you suspect you have been part of the data breach. It advises users to keep checking their financial accounts for suspected and unauthorized activity. If this is spotted, they should contact their bank or financial institutions immediately.  

Another tip is to place a fraud alert on your credit file. There are three major credit reporting agencies in the United States. Each will give you a free credit report to see if anyone has tried to access finance using your details. A fraud alert will tell them to contact you should anyone try to do so in the future.  

The other option is legal action against the company, which at least eight different individuals have pursued. However, this can be a lengthy and expensive process and you are not guaranteed a positive outcome. Instead, make sure you protect your data and keep an eye on your finances and hopefully you can minimize the risk in the future.