Social Security Leak How It Affects You !

If you have ever had a background check done your Social Security Number may have been leaked. On August 17th the widely used company National Public Data (NPD), used for company background checks was breached by a hacking group gaining access to millions of peoples social security numbers, names, emails, and addresses. This has not been the first breach of private information like this on a massive scale and will more than likely happen again…

Your recommended sip of tech to prevent your info from being sold on the dark web:

• How to check if your information was leaked

• How to lessen the likely hood of your information being stolen

Was your information leaked?

If you're just hearing about the data leak for the first time, it's understandable if you're feeling anxious about whether you've been affected by this attack. Fortunately, companies like Pentesters have created a free database that allows you to check if your information has been compromised. Simply provide your first name, last name, date of birth, and the state you reside in to search the database and see if you've been targeted.

Cleanup if your information has been leaked?

If you find yourself on this list, it is critical to immediately freeze your credit with the top credit bureaus. Pentesters provides the names and contact numbers for the top three credit bureaus that can assist you in locking your credit. This action protects you by blocking access to your credit report, preventing anyone from opening new accounts in your name, such as credit cards or loans.

Once you've completed this step, we strongly recommend contacting your bank to notify you of any suspicious activity. Depending on your bank, they will have a plan in place to help you protect your money and credit, as well as assist you in recovering from any damage caused.

Hackers Cant Attack You, If they can’t have access to attack you…

Attacks like this will happen again, and we hope that companies affected have learned how to correct the vulnerabilities. However, we must not rely solely on them to protect us. If your company offers security training, or if you can find resources online, such as on YouTube, it’s crucial to take that training seriously and take responsibility for your own security.

Hackers often gain access to your information through social engineering or by obtaining one of your passwords and using it across other apps. Many people use the same passwords for their bank accounts, subscriptions, and work accounts. If you have any repeated passwords, avoid the risk of further attacks and change them now!

Another way to protect yourself is by paying for services like LifeLock and McAfee that help protect your information. These services scan the dark web on your behalf to ensure your information isn’t being sold, notify you anytime your information is used, and help ensure your data is not easily accessible to hackers. By using services like these, you make it harder for hackers to target you, saving you the headache of identity recovery.

If you are interested in cybersecurity or seeking roles as administrators or positions with higher levels of access, it is your responsibility to ensure you are aware of cybersecurity basics to avoid attacks on your work accounts and protect your personal information. After all, you don't want to be the person whose admin credentials were leaked, leading to a massive breach. To learn the basics of cybersecurity awareness, we recommend the following course.