A Hacking Group Known as USDoD Claims Responsibility

A Hacking Group Known as USDoD Claims Responsibility

A significant data breach has been claimed by a hacking group known as USDoD, which is reported to have stolen 2.7 billion records of personal information, including Social Security numbers and physical addresses, from National Public Data (NPD). The platform operated by NPD is used for providing personal data required for background checks by employers, private investigators, and staffing agencies.

The breach, which was initially reported in April, has resulted in substantial amounts of sensitive information being leaked on online forums dedicated to stolen data. It has been noted that USDoD originally attempted to sell the stolen database, which contained personal records from the US, UK, and Canada, for $3.5 million on hacker forums.

Despite these attempts to monetize the stolen data, various entities have leaked portions of it, further exacerbating the risk of identity theft and other fraudulent activities. As a result, individuals are being advised to monitor their credit reports closely for any signs of suspicious activity and to report any discrepancies to credit bureaus such as Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.

In response to the breach, consumers are being requested to freeze their credit accounts to prevent unauthorized loans or credit card applications. Furthermore, US individuals have been advised to enhance their online security by managing passwords carefully, enabling two-factor authentication, and regularly updating passwords.

To provide additional protection against identity theft, monitoring services that track personal information and activity on the dark web are also recommended. These steps are crucial in safeguarding against potential misuse of personal information resulting from this extensive data breach.