Immediate Action Needed for North Dakota Residents After Massive Data Breach

Did you catch the latest data breach yet? The one could be huge if not checked, and fast! Yahoo Finance reported last week that National Public Data (NPD) disclosed a shocking data breach that has compromised the personal information of billions of Americans. The breach, which took place in the latter part of last year, is suspected to have impacted records that date back at least three decades and exposed sensitive data, such as Social Security numbers.

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The company acknowledged the breach on its website, stating that "potential leaks of certain data" occurred in April 2024 and during the summer of 2024. The inclusion of Social Security numbers in the breach has raised significant concerns, leaving many Americans worried about their vulnerability to identity theft.

How to Check If You Were Affected

Cybersecurity firm Pentester has developed a tool to help individuals determine if their Social Security number was part of the breach. By visiting npd.pentester.com and entering your first and last name and birth year, you can see a list of breached accounts, including the last four digits of any leaked Social Security numbers.

Steps to Take If Your Information Was Compromised

NPD advises those potentially affected to monitor their financial accounts closely. Many people neglect to regularly check their account balances and credit card statements, which can allow cybercriminals to go undetected.

Set Up Credit Monitoring and Fraud Alerts to Protect Your Information

Setting up credit monitoring is a crucial step in protecting your personal information. Additionally, you should contact one of the three major U.S. credit reporting agencies—Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion—to place a fraud alert on your account. This alert will notify creditors to verify your identity before opening new accounts or making changes to existing ones. The fraud alert lasts for one year and can be renewed.

For those especially concerned about identity theft, a credit freeze is recommended. This prevents new credit from being issued without your explicit permission, offering stronger protection than credit monitoring alone.

The U.S. Public Interest Research Group emphasizes that a credit freeze is the most effective way to protect against unauthorized credit activity, providing a critical safeguard in the wake of this unprecedented breach.