Massive Data Breach Exposes Personal Information For Virtually Every American

A staggering data breach has rocked the cybersecurity world, potentially exposing the personal information of 2.9 billion people.

This incident, which rivals the size of the 2013 Yahoo! hack, has raised serious alarms about data protection practices.

At the center of this storm is a Florida company called Jerico Pictures, doing business as National Public Data.

On April 8, hackers put the company’s stolen database up for sale on the dark web, asking $3.5 million.

The scale of this breach is hard to grasp.

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It affects nearly nine times the entire U.S. population. Here’s what was leaked:

– Names
– Addresses (current and past)
– Social Security numbers
– Family details, including info on deceased relatives

A cybersecurity expert who looked at the files said, “We were able to identify someone’s parents, deceased relatives, uncles, aunts, and cousins.”

This treasure trove of data could be a huge risk for identity theft.

The hackers, calling themselves ‘USDoD’, are thought to be based in Latin America.

They’ve made waves before, claiming attacks on big names like CrowdStrike, a major cybersecurity firm.

Legal Trouble Brewing

A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Jerico Pictures.

It claims the company didn’t properly protect people’s data.

It also accuses the firm of taking billions of files from other databases without permission.

So far, National Public Data hasn’t publicly confirmed the breach.

They also haven’t warned people who might be affected, leaving millions in the dark about their data being at risk.

Protecting Yourself

This breach is a wake-up call about the risks to our personal data.

Here are some steps you can take:

1. Data opt-out services: These can remove your info from databases, but they can be pricey – up to $499 a year.

2. Free options: Some nonprofits, like Consumer Reports, offer free data protection tools.

3. Stay alert: Keep a close eye on your bank statements and credit reports.

What’s Next?

This massive breach shows we’re at a turning point in digital security. It highlights the need for:

– Stronger data protection laws
– Better security from companies
– More awareness about protecting personal info

The lawsuit against Jerico Pictures puts it bluntly, calling their actions “negligence.”

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Moving forward, both companies and individuals need to step up their game to keep sensitive data safe.