In August 2024, a new class action lawsuit claimed that every American’s Social Security number was stolen in a data breach in April 2024.
The lawsuit says that hackers stole the personal information of nearly three billion people, including every existing Social Security number, from background check company National Public Data (NPD). If true, this would mean every American is at risk of having their identity stolen.
While the exact details of the breach are not confirmed, don’t wait. Freeze your credit now and keep it frozen by default.
Freezing your credit:
- Is free
- Doesn’t impact your credit score
- Is easy and fast to un-freeze if you need to apply for credit
How to freeze your credit
Freezing your credit prevents anyone from applying for lines of credit (such as credit cards and mortgages) using your identity. This includes you, but you can temporarily unfreeze or thaw your credit and re-freeze it.
Contact Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, the three credit reporting bureaus, to initiate a freeze. You must freeze your credit with each bureau—you can do this online or over the phone. We recommend keeping your credit frozen by default.
If you discover someone attempted to open a credit card under your name or find unauthorized charges, dispute the situation immediately with the bank or credit card company.
Freeze your kids’ credit
You can even freeze your children’s credit, too. Cybercriminals can try to create a different name and identity using a child’s Social Security number—sometimes it doesn’t matter that the number doesn’t belong to an adult. This fraud can happen for years and might be undetected until the victim turns 18. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has more details.
Additional actions you can take:
If you haven’t already done so, update your antivirus protection and perform security scans on all devices. If malware is found, most antivirus programs should be able to remove it. But, you may need to seek reputable professional assistance in some cases.
Update passwords for bank accounts, email account(s), social media accounts, and other services used, ensuring your updated passwords are strong and unique for each account. Passwords should include uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters whenever possible. They should never contain personal information that a hacker could guess or obtain from stolen data.
Use multifactor authentication (MFA) on any accounts or services that offer it to ensure proper identity verification. Take extra caution with email and social media accounts and beware of phishing, which is an attempt to get your personal information or access to accounts by misrepresenting the identity of the person or entity sending a message.
Bottom line
In an era where data breaches have become increasingly common, the possibility of Americans’ Social Security numbers being compromised is a sobering reminder of the importance of proactive security measures. While the details of this breach are still emerging, the need to protect your financial identity can’t be overstated.
By freezing your credit and staying vigilant against cyber threats, you can take significant steps to safeguard your personal information. Don’t wait for confirmation of the worst-case scenario—act now to protect yourself and your family from the risks of identity theft.
