Data Breach

You have probably heard by now about the big data breach at National Public Data in Florida.  Apparently that company keeps records for banks and other financial entities, including social security numbers, birth dates, addresses, etc.

The initial reports say 2.9 Billion names were stolen.  Atlas Privacy, an independent cyber privacy company says 272 million US residents’ data was stolen.

Atlas has made https://npdbreach.com where you can put in your name and zip code and it searches the data base to see if your name is among the stolen data.  (NOTE:  put in ONLY your name and zip code.)

It works.  I entered my name, a daughter-in-laws name, a grandson’s name (all under the same zip code), and they all showed breached.  Then I entered other grandkids names, (same zip code) and they showed they had NOT been breached.

When you do a search, it redirects you to a page where you can fill out more detailed info; I suggest you do NOT do that!  The reason is it’s a Google doc page, and I do NOT trust Google!  If you’re comfortable doing it, go ahead.

Otherwise, here’s from an earlier report:

“Contact any one of the three major credit bureaus. As soon as one credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the others are notified to place fraud alerts. The initial fraud alert stays on your credit report for one year. You can renew it after one year.

Equifax: equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services or 1-800-685-1111

Experian: experian.com/help or 1-888-397-3742

TransUnion: transunion.com/credit-help or 1-888-909-8872

Ask each credit bureau to send you a free credit report after it places a fraud alert on your file. Review your credit reports for accounts and inquiries you do not recognize.”

You can also put a freeze on your credit so no one can use it to start a fraudulent account or loan, etc.  After you do so, before you make a loan or open an account, you will have to call and un-freeze it.