What You Need to Know about the National Public Data Breach
The recent National Public Data Breach has sent shockwaves through the United States, Canada, and the UK. While it might seem like a distant issue that only affects large populations, the truth is that this breach hits much closer to home. If you’re thinking this doesn’t involve you, think again.
What Is The National Public Data Breach
Last week, Bloomberg Law reported on a class action lawsuit alleging that National Public Data suffered a breach involving billions of pieces of personal information. This breach is attributed to a hacker group known as USDoD, which, despite its name, has no connection to the United States Department of Defense.
The company, National Public Data is a broker responsible for background checks for hiring, data management, and security. Ironically, it seems their security measures failed them—and us.
The court documents detail the types of information exposed:
Full names
Social security numbers
Addresses
Phone numbers
Family members’ details
However, the breach is messy. The leaked information may not be complete, accurate, or up-to-date, leaving everyone scrambling to understand the extent of the damage. Worse still, the breach reportedly occurred in April, meaning our data has been vulnerable for months before we even knew about it.
What Does This Mean for You?
In simple terms, this breach means a scammer could gather enough information about you to convincingly pose as you. With this information, they could apply for new lines of credit, open utility accounts, or even undergo medical procedures in your name. Our credit check system is flawed, and with the real data now out there, proving your identity could become an uphill battle.
One of the most troubling aspects of any data breach is that some of your information like your social security number never changes. This means scammers could wait years before using your data. The breach might also affect children who won’t realize their credit is ruined until they turn 18. Even deceased individuals may have had their information compromised, potentially putting their loved ones at risk.
What Can You Do to Protect Yourself?
Taking control of your credit after a data breach is essential. It allows you to mitigate the risk of identity theft and financial fraud. By actively managing your credit—such as freezing it, monitoring your credit reports, and setting up fraud alerts—you create barriers that make it much harder for criminals to exploit your data.
Freeze Your Credit
The first step I urge you to take is to freeze your credit. Typically, your credit is open and can be accessed at any time, allowing you to make major purchases like cars or homes. However, if you’re not planning any significant purchases, freezing your credit ensures that no one—not even you—can open new accounts or make large purchases until it’s thawed.
Freezing your credit is simple and free. You can do it online, by phone, or by mail with the three major credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. There’s no need to pay another company to do this for you. While Experian offers a user-friendly app for the process, I recommend calling TransUnion and Equifax directly. The entire process is automated and takes just a few minutes.
Experian: 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion: 1-888-909-8872
Equifax: 1-800-685-1111
During the freeze, you’ll need to provide personal information, such as your social security number, date of birth, and home address. While it’s possible that a scammer could use breached data to unfreeze your account, there are real-time verification steps in place to help prevent this.
Monitor Your Credit Report
You have the right to access your credit report, and you should take advantage of it. The best way to do this is through AnnualCreditReport.com. Reviewing your transactions is quick and easy, and if you spot anything suspicious, you can report it and work to remove it from your credit. Additionally, you can hire a company to monitor your credit and alert you to potential fraud.
Freeze Your Child’s Credit
Freezing your child’s credit is a bit more challenging, but it’s equally important. If your child has a social security number, they are at risk for fraud. Scammers often target children because their credit typically goes unchecked until they turn 18.
I’ve done an entire article on this topic, as I froze my son’s credit a few years ago. Just this year, I received a letter stating that my son’s data had been compromised in a small, local breach. Thankfully, my diligence paid off, and his credit remains protected.
Freezing a child’s credit requires gathering personal information, paperwork, and proof of guardianship, and then physically mailing it all to the three credit bureaus. None of this can be done online, but it’s worth the effort. Your child’s credit will remain frozen until they turn 16, at which point they can unfreeze it themselves.
To help you with this process, I’ve created a free step-by-step guide on how to freeze your child’s credit.
How to Unfreeze Your Credit
If you want to apply for a new credit card, a mortgage, or a car loan, then you will want to unfreeze or "thaw" your credit. After placing your credit on a freeze you will get a letter from the credit bureau at your home address. The letter will notify you that your credit has been frozen and provide you a report number and an identification number. You will need both of these numbers to thaw your personal credit.
To unfreeze your credit, contact each of the three major credit bureaus as you did before. This time choose the options to thaw your credit. You will be asked for the identification number and maybe the case number to proceed with opening your credit up to be checked again.
You may be given the option to temporally thaw your account or do it permanently. If it's temporary then it will freeze again after the set amount of days you agreed to. If it is permanent, then your credit is open again and you'll have to freeze it again to close it.
Is A Credit Freeze the Same as a Credit Lock?
A credit freeze and a credit lock both restrict access to your credit report to protect against fraud, but they differ in cost and features. A credit freeze is free and guaranteed by federal law.
A credit lock is typically a paid service offered by credit bureaus with additional features like real-time alerts. Both options are effective for preventing unauthorized credit applications, but a credit freeze is more accessible, while a credit lock offers convenience and extra protections.
Take Action Now
Some people may feel apathetic or overwhelmed by this breach. Maybe they don’t understand the implications, or they’re afraid of what could happen. But even if this breach isn’t as catastrophic as it seems, taking steps to protect your credit is still a good idea.
At worst, you’ve spent an hour of your time freezing your credit and protecting your family. At best, you’ve safeguarded your financial future against the inevitable next breach.
Freezing your credit is far easier than repairing your identity after you’ve been scammed—if you even find out about it. The recent data breach has put all of us at risk, but by taking action now, you can help protect yourself and your loved ones from identity theft and financial fraud.
By taking these simple steps, you’re not only protecting yourself today but also in the future. Don't wait until it's too late—freeze your credit and monitor your reports regularly to stay one step ahead of scammers.
