ITS Security Update: National Public Data Breach

National Public Data (NPD), a data broker specializing in background checks, recently experienced a data breach, exposing sensitive information such as Social Security Numbers, addresses, and phone numbers of millions of Americans. This breach, initially detected in December 2023, was due to database passwords inadvertently being published online, leading to unauthorized access.

To safeguard your personal information, consider the following measures to help protect your information:

• Use Strong, Unique Passwords: Create strong passwords and use a password manager. Bitwarden, Dashlane, and Keeper are all popular, reputable password managers.
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (MFA): Always add extra security to your accounts when available from a vendor.
• Monitor Financial Accounts: Regularly check for unauthorized activity and consider placing a fraud alert on your credit file.
• Freeze Your Credit: Prevent identity thieves from opening accounts in your name by freezing your credit with major bureaus.

Consider Reputable Identity Protection Services:

• Aura: Offers comprehensive identity, credit, and digital protection.
• LifeLock by Norton: Provides identity protection with credit monitoring and dark web surveillance.
• Identity Guard: Features fast theft detection and recovery support.
• ID Watchdog: Known for strong financial monitoring and identity recovery.
• IdentityIQ: Focuses on credit score building and identity protection.

Implementing these strategies can help mitigate risks and protect your sensitive information from future breaches.