A cyberattack carried out by a hacker group known as USDoD has reportedly compromised 2.7 billion records, exposing sensitive data, including Social Security numbers and physical addresses of Americans. The group claims to have stolen the data from National Public Data (NPD), a company that provides information for background checks to employers, investigators, and other agencies. The stolen information is now allegedly for sale at a price of $3.5 million.
The breach, which took place in April, has raised alarms among cybersecurity experts and consumer advocates. Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog director for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, warned that this leak could have more severe consequences than previous breaches due to the sheer volume and type of data involved. She stated, “This should be a wake-up call for anyone who hasn’t been taking cybersecurity seriously.”
NPD is currently facing a class-action lawsuit in Florida’s U.S. District Court over the breach, but the company has remained tight-lipped, only stating they are “aware of certain third-party claims” and are investigating.
The hackers disclosed the breach on a notorious forum, where a user called “Felice” shared details about the data theft and hinted at even more breaches in the future. The incident highlights the ever-present risks posed by cybercriminals and the vulnerability of personal information in the hands of third-party companies.
As the situation develops, consumers are urged to monitor their financial statements and take additional precautions to protect their identity.
