A massive data breach, potentially one of the largest in internet history, has come to light, exposing a staggering 2.9 billion personal records allegedly stolen from National Public Data, a background check company. The revelation came from a user known as Fenice who shared a purportedly complete version of the stolen data on a popular hacking forum. Fenice claims the breach was caused by a hacker named SXUL, not the US Department of Defense (DoD) as initially suspected.
While others had previously shared portions of the data, Fenice’s release is reportedly the most comprehensive to date. However, concerns have been raised about the accuracy of the data, with reports of incorrect Social Security numbers. Despite these inconsistencies, many individuals have confirmed their personal information, including past addresses, was compromised, suggesting the data was taken from an old backup.
The breach was initially brought to light in a class-action lawsuit filed by Bloomberg Law. However, National Public Data, also known as Jerico Pictures, has yet to publicly acknowledge the breach or provide details about how it occurred. This lack of official confirmation necessitates cautious skepticism towards all new information.
The revelation of the breach has also sparked outrage and concern, as many users were unaware that the company even possessed such extensive personal data. The lawsuit alleges that National Public Data collected this information from non-public sources to conduct background checks, raising serious questions about the company’s data collection practices and its ethical implications.
The lawsuit further accuses National Public Data of various legal violations, including breaches of fiduciary duty and unjust enrichment. The company is facing intense scrutiny from both individuals and authorities as the implications of this massive data breach continue to unfold. This incident underscores the growing vulnerability of personal data in the digital age and highlights the urgent need for stricter security measures and greater transparency from companies handling sensitive information.
