Hackers Release 2.9 Billion Personal Records: How to Protect Yourself in a Growing Identity Theft Crisis

[{"selector":"#anim-2f58906a-5073-42f1-98f7-ef2ea871f91d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b86725cb-b567-4f2f-a367-d3ce317d5585","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f39e014b-e588-49c6-a5ce-87162c76d7f7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6c18e384-240d-4b7e-9237-492b11289e36","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7bf45023-474d-46d4-b329-1fa8ac348c26","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bc2582a4-03e3-4436-a4bb-715559d4139a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-98709a38-e445-4ebf-a621-a9cd0362ec94","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-12ad27fb-e63b-481f-8414-c5bd276aa553","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Public defenders warn of potential identity theft affecting nearly 3 billion people after hackers in the U.S. allegedly stole personal records. Public defenders warn of potential identity theft affecting nearly 3 billion people after hackers in the U.S. allegedly stole personal records. Photo Source: Google Photo Source: Google

[{"selector":"#anim-27b24d18-bafe-4957-ad7d-aee47ea5d29f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6c087067-dc88-4284-9977-5258d5b53680","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.43836%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-97683578-1e74-415e-b198-c0d977a36cb5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d98c4520-f3ae-4251-8818-fb1512e0cfa8","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8d719689-f882-4352-950a-5e4dc937c730","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-89f04c8f-8a1f-4a57-be93-8c889f575003","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -100.05598%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-572aac4c-b0ee-498e-ba99-9b89fd6c58a3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bcd8fa45-4092-4344-9d71-ca2f00db37c3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 169.49589%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The lawsuit claims that the hacker group USDoD stole the records from National Public Data (NPD), a company that provides background check services. Photo Source: Google Photo Source: Google

[{"selector":"#anim-fa8db6b1-ab54-48b6-bcf0-ff88e4a0ee04 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e521cbfd-e0af-4725-af74-b09547a48c12","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fcf2ca8e-60d2-44ba-83e2-7bb26fd2fbce","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-57c1f8fb-b263-43e3-96fb-94cf69e8cbc6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4512ce0a-da38-451f-87aa-88e3a300737e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c1326086-76bc-459b-aa87-7740245855f4","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cdd03637-4664-4b98-a1ef-986153612734","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ed4c5695-443e-4c6e-b149-0301bd59ba68","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Republican Senator Rick Scott from Florida has accused the White House of failing to prevent the breach and demands accountability. Republican Senator Rick Scott from Florida has accused the White House of failing to prevent the breach and demands accountability. Photo Source: Google Photo Source: Google

[{"selector":"#anim-36a07f29-a456-43ad-acbc-114d104143a8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4d9eec1d-b0bf-4552-83aa-d2f3d17b02f7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 169.49589%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-518e24bc-3066-4887-9add-4815b98849fe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8c2e1815-f429-45cb-85ca-650e2ab8e1f3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -100.0564%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-91c6265f-16fb-4f27-b03b-72beeb5957f7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.43836%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c0a2d11d-b80f-4b73-b497-794d914a7f0b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ec815b92-1831-4bf2-ba6f-0ea06cd48bf0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3ffcd669-7988-44c8-b7a2-a47e1c4a3e81","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The breach was initially reported by the Los Angeles Times, citing information provided by Bleeping Computer. Photo Source: Google Photo Source: Google

[{"selector":"#anim-f7afc622-5534-4fc8-b20e-7d2b0906278c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e11e9041-951f-4b22-a795-f9bde1ca09cd","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-82ac7d09-14c6-41f3-b1df-5d013dabe759","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d61bf413-1337-4fa4-9050-bc7d3df0a661","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cc5706a9-b216-4cd4-9149-eed73b35c762","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-df9c070d-c226-4029-bcca-ff10ccc49b16","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cd940e78-93eb-4cd6-80bf-1eab344f968a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-db326294-4ed7-48fa-bc07-0ae2ce13e982","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] According to these sources, each record includes the person's name, mailing addresses, and Social Security number, with some records also containing additional details like alternate names. According to these sources, each record includes the person's name, mailing addresses, and Social Security number, with some records also containing additional details like alternate names. Photo Source: Google Photo Source: Google

[{"selector":"#anim-fc3156f5-fe0c-48c7-b03c-27acbc7a9915","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f3b33a9d-3fa8-4aec-817a-5e72ffd18822","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 169.49589%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-77d74188-9eb6-4320-823e-9fbf144576fc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ed39d1e1-0015-4f01-b12f-9c27c01c4d3c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -100.05556%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-09f15caa-9546-436d-9996-736d044592a6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.43836%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-66ea2688-1a4c-4d11-90cf-e8b7609443fd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-be604617-1ac9-4b9b-bd90-cd591a664f70","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fe35119a-d5a6-4386-a3ad-48acb2a802d7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Experts recommend freezing your credit files with the three major credit agencies—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion—to minimize potential damage. Photo Source: Google Photo Source: Google

[{"selector":"#anim-2e3748e6-b479-4918-bf6d-9e92f868c6be [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a35739a5-8b35-48bc-aa00-627e49592f3c","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4a928611-fb5a-4338-ba54-671c96a3cea0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c9a4baa5-f7ad-4739-b7f9-251666d3ce16","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-60bdb424-eaf4-4795-8314-432ca090a5a2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-492f216f-420b-4dbc-a09f-c4c41c41ec29","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ba18a8c3-0418-492f-9e1a-22eff38d6f1e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b3f79143-2aee-4f5e-a683-779bbfb5606a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] They also advise against sharing your personal, financial, or health plan information over the phone, by mail, or online unless you have initiated the contact and trust the requester. They also advise against sharing your personal, financial, or health plan information over the phone, by mail, or online unless you have initiated the contact and trust the requester. Photo Source: Google Photo Source: Google

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[{"selector":"#anim-1ec52b32-b672-4a1c-ac45-98c6d822a1df [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9704fe38-a260-4d2b-8b27-5e4c78b38cb2","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-02ddb414-7f9b-4f44-9a89-aef6e7013239","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-855f4a7a-a91e-43fa-91de-ed21252a4f9d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.23810%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ecfc22fe-2e9e-4219-a582-ec2ccf4ebbf6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fd551571-e40c-4d44-b351-5c0a80fd449b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-55c10f95-17ea-4797-91ce-04cc04ab7e1c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b647f1aa-4c2c-493c-ab7f-b9ee70bac91b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Backing up important data regularly is also advisable to protect against potential loss or misuseL Backing up important data regularly is also advisable to protect against potential loss or misuseL Photo Source: Google Photo Source: Google

[{"selector":"#anim-4cf747c3-3eda-465a-b90a-bf451b06427e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b3030bd7-ac6f-4aaa-94bc-b20731c678e4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -221.74939%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-20fa1a1f-d152-440e-bebb-6feb6fd5998e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bd55336a-6276-4cbb-bdd7-d4877583506a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7d354bf8-8a5d-42df-b0db-d2781c510a5c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e7048d00-da12-4392-83f7-81af1791d54f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] China's Mingyang Builds a 22 MW Offshore Wind Turbine Taller Than the Eiffel Tower With a Rotor Span of 310 Meters Learn more

Hackers Release 2.9 Billion Personal Records: How to Protect Yourself in a Growing Identity Theft Crisis

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