USDoD Hacking Group Allegedly Steals 2.9 Billion People's Personal Data

A hacking group known as USDoD has reportedly stolen the personal data of approximately 2.9 billion people, including social security numbers, in a breach that occurred around April 2024. A class-action lawsuit was filed in a U.S. District Court in Florida, alleging that USDoD obtained this information from National Public Data.

The Impact:

• Quantifiable Data: The breach includes 277.1 gigabytes of data, including names, address histories, relatives' details, and Social Security numbers, going back 30 years.
• Financial Risk: The hacker group sold this data on the dark web for $3.5 million, putting individuals at significant risk of financial fraud and identity theft.

Protecting Yourself:

While a credit freeze won't undo the breach, it can prevent further damage:

• Credit Bureaus: Freeze your credit through Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Contact info and online resources for all three are provided in the references.
• Credit Cards: Contact your card issuer to freeze your account.

Next Steps:

Texans are advised to follow tips from the Texas Attorney General's Office:

• Storage: Keep documents with personal info in a secure place.
• Minimize Risk: Avoid carrying your Social Security card.
• Communication: Don't share personal info unless you initiated contact and trust the recipient.
• Privacy Settings: Adjust social media and online privacy settings to limit information sharing.
• Passwords & 2FA: Use strong, unique passwords with a manager and enable two-factor authentication for an extra layer of security.

See the referenced URLs for more detailed information:

• Class-action lawsuit
• Data size and details
• Equifax
• Experian
• TransUnion
• Texas Attorney General's Office advice
• Opt-out of pre-screened credit offers
• FTC Guidance on disposing of old computers

Sources: Bloomberg Law, PR Newswire, Credit bureaus, Texas Attorney General's Office, USA TODAY.