Time.com: Check if Your Info Was Compromised in the Data Breach

[Anonymous]

Here is the article from Time.com that includes a link to the Data breach checker on the NPD website.

https://time.com/7011872/social-security-data-breach-information/

"National Public Data" NPD is the company that was data breached.

Data breach checker

https://npd.pentester.com/

--- My data is absolutely on that NPD checker page. ---

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Experian just changed the free account to offering daily credit score updates.

The top banner on their page says:

"A data breach just exposed 2.9B private records - don’t wait to protect your credit."

"National Public Data confirms massive data breach included Social Security numbers"

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2024/08/17/social-security-hack-national-public-data-confirms/74... 

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Easy links to get to the Big 3 bureaus to freeze your reports.

Equifax Credit Freeze
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/

Experian Credit Freeze
https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html

TransUnion Credit Freeze
https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze

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Request your Experian Equifax Transunion credit reports free here
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action

Request your LexisNexis report here
https://consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com/request

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Chexsystems:

https://www.chexsystems.com/

• to request your Chexsystems report
• opt out of their prescreen list
• or freeze your report if you so choose.

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In addition to freezing credit reports:

IRS: Get An Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN)
https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin

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National Do Not Call Registry
https://www.donotcall.gov/ 

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More in-depth posts:

"PSA: Freezing your three main credit reports is NOT ENOUGH"
https://www.reddit.com/r/IdentityTheft/comments/uvv3ij/psa_freezing_your_three_main_credit_reports_i...

"Don't Stop at Freezing Your Main Three Credit Reports"
https://www.myfico.com/credit-education/blog/freeze-other-credit-reports

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@Thomas_Thumb wrote:

I got 2 letters in the mail last week notifying me of other databases that have my info being hacked.

Hacks should be expected. Plan accordingly.

Set-up all important accounts for 2 factor identification. Also, best not to allow merchants or even Amazon/Ebay to store CC info in their databases. Recommend freezing (or locking) credit reports as well. Also set-up to get text notifications for all purchases where physical card is not present and above X dollars even if card is supposedly present. I set X at $250.

Use different, unique, passwords for all your key accounts. Of course, it is hard to remember 50 or even 20 complex passwords so, I keep mine in a password protected Excel file.

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@Horseshoez wrote:

Thanks for the links; I just checked and virtually every place I've lived (spread across five states) since June of 1988 shows up on the list; same thing for my wife (her data only goes back to about 1990).

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[Thomas_Thumb]

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@Anonymous wrote:

National Do Not Call Registry
https://www.donotcall.gov/ 

More in-depth posts:

PSA: Freezing your three main credit reports is NOT ENOUGH
https://www.reddit.com/r/IdentityTheft/comments/uvv3ij/psa_freezing_your_three_main_credit_reports_is/

Don't Stop at Freezing Your Main Three Credit Reports
https://www.myfico.com/credit-education/blog/freeze-other-credit-reports

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Innovis is a 4th CRA that is actually used by some creditors for new credit and merits freezing. It may have some affiliation with SageStream. 

Many people choose to freeze LexisNexis as well. Although it is not pulled for new credit applications, it does have a lot of personal data. I don't worry about LN because all my info is out there anyway.

My focus is protecting existing accounts against unauthorized use and preventing others from opening new accounts in my name.

ChexSystems is important for opening of checking/savings and other banking accounts, so also worth freezing that report. Otherwise ... You might find yourself in the money laundering business and be unable to open a real account when you need to

[Snook_on_the_Line]

All my addresses and phone numbers from the last 15 years or so.     Very unnerving.    

thanks for the link.       
double checking that all my reports are frozen right now.  

[IsambardPrince]

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@Thomas_Thumb wrote:

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Innovis is a 4th CRA that is actually used by some creditors for new credit and merits freezing. It may have some affiliation with SageStream. 

Many people choose to freeze LexisNexis as well. Although it is not pulled for new credit applications, it does have a lot of personal data. I don't worry about LN because all my info is out there anyway.

My focus is protecting existing accounts against unauthorized use and preventing others from opening new accounts in my name.

ChexSystems is important for opening of checking/savings and other banking accounts, so also worth freezing that report. Otherwise ... You might find yourself in the money laundering business and be unable to open a real account when you need to

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Chase never checked or reported to Innovis until I had two of their credit cards included in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, then they ADDED them to Innovis as discharged credit cards.

So it's pretty clear to me that Chase was just looking to do as much damage as possible for revenge even though Innovis doesn't matter much.

Innovis doesn't seem to be used heavily though for new credit. Synchrony uses it a lot, both checking and reporting current account status.

I have not seen other banks pulling mine.

[AndySoCal]

 My name appears three times as exposed there is slight differences in the other data. All credit reports are frozen. I just pulled my Chex report nothing new, I will put a freeze on it. I have had  3 background checks run related to employment not sure if it was one of there sub companies or not.

[Anonymous]

Who Can Check Your Credit After You Add a Freeze, Lock or Fraud Alert?

https://www.myfico.com/credit-education/blog/check-credit-freeze 

[Windchill92]

Big time thanks John for all these resources. If landlords, insurance, utility, & telecom companies can access my credit report while frozen, does it count as a SP or HP?

[Aim_High]

Thanks for the information and links, @Anonymous.  I came to the Credit in the News subforum to see what was here about the National Public Data Breach.  Not sure if I dismissed the headlines as related to the recent AT&T breach but this is huge.  I just posted about it HERE after finding numerous recent dark web entries on my AMEX credit monitoring.  Unnerving, to say the least.   My reports are all frozen and contemplating additional security measures since it appears my data was highly exposed.  

[Anonymous]

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@Aim_High wrote:

Thanks for the information and links, @Anonymous.  I came to the Credit in the News subforum to see what was here about the National Public Data Breach.  Not sure if I dismissed the headlines as related to the recent AT&T breach but this is huge.  I just posted about it HERE after finding numerous recent dark web entries on my AMEX credit monitoring.  Unnerving, to say the least.   My reports are all frozen and contemplating additional security measures since it appears my data was highly exposed.  

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👍

[Aim_High]

I don't believe anyone has mentioned the Social Security website but I believe it's important to "CLAIM" your own profile (before a fraudster does) and verify no benefits have been paid or filed.  I just renewed my password at  Social Security (SSA.gov).  I verified there were no social security benefits paid or applications pending by selecting the "Verification Letter" link on my dashboard. (I am not yet retired but plan to be in next few years. I've contributed over 45 years to Social Security with some high earning years and have earned a fairly good payout, as Social Security goes.)

Thanks for the tip about the IRS website.  I authorized and created a PIN to file my income taxes since there has been fraud related to that in recent years.

I think those may be the two most important government websites to secure for fraud purposes.