How to Easily Check if Your Social Security Number Was Leaked in a Major Data Breach

A massive data breach potentially exposed up to 2.9 billion personal records, leaving many people wondering: "Was my information leaked?"

The breach involves National Public Data, a background check company owned by Jerico Pictures Inc. The company revealed that the breach might have started with a hack in December 2023, followed by leaks in April 2024 and later in the summer. The leaked data includes names, email addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, and mailing addresses.

The company is currently cooperating with law enforcement to investigate the breach and will notify individuals whose information was compromised. Meanwhile, there are steps you can take to see if your information was leaked.

Two websites run by online security companies allow you to check for free if your Social Security number was part of the breach. You can check through National Public Data operated by Atlas Privacy or through cybersecurity company Pentester.

What Should You Do if Your Information Was Leaked?

Unfortunately, there’s no way to stop someone from using your stolen data, so it’s crucial to monitor your credit report and financial accounts closely.

You can request a free credit report every year from the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. If you notice any suspicious activity or misuse of your personal information, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website at IdentityTheft.gov to report identity theft and get recovery steps. Even if you don’t see any issues, it’s a good idea to keep checking your reports regularly to catch any problems early.

You might also want to consider freezing your credit, which restricts access to your credit report. A credit freeze stops creditors from viewing your report and prevents new accounts from being opened in your name, whether they’re fraudulent or legitimate. If you need to allow access to your credit information, you can temporarily lift the freeze.