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7 Steps to Take If You're Affected, According to the Social Security Administration

    A report from Bloomberg Law in early August revealed that ultra-sensitive and personal information of nearly three billion people was leaked in an April 2024 data breach. A cybercriminal group called “USDoD” exposed a database owned by National Public Data, a background check company, on the dark web.

    Some of the exposed information includes Social Security numbers, addresses, full names, family member information, and more. Concerned readers can find out if they are among the billions affected by visiting npd.pentester.com.

    The question is, what do you do if you are affected by a data breach?

    SEE ALSO: Social Security Number Breach: Here's What to Do to Find Out If You're One of the Billions Affected

    Social security data breach: 7 steps to take if you are affected

    According to advice from the Social Security Administration (SSA), here's what you should do if your personal information has been breached:

    1. Visit IdentityTheft.gov. File a report and receive a recovery plan. You can also call 1-877-438-4338.

    2. Visit the Internet Crime Complaint Center. File a report online.

    3. Notify one of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion.

    4. Consider adding a credit freeze and/or fraud alert to your credit report.

    5. Check your credit report for anything unusual. (You can request a free credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com)

    6. File a police report. Keep a copy for your own records in case any problems arise in the future.

    7. Contact the IRS to prevent others from using your Social Security number to file a tax return and steal your refund. Call 1-800-908-4490 or visit Identity Theft Central.

    As mentioned earlier, you can double-check if your identity has been compromised by going to npd.pentester.com. Type in your first name, last name, state, and year of birth.