3 Billion Social Security Numbers Leaked On The Dark Web

Summary

A massive data breach has exposed nearly 3 billion people's personal information, including names, addresses, and social security numbers. The data, initially for sale at $3.5 million, was released for free on a hacker forum. It originated from National Public Data, which scraped data without consent. The breach could lead to identity theft and unauthorized financial transactions. The video discusses the potential risks and advises viewers to be vigilant about their personal information.

Takeaways

• 😱 A data breach exposed personal data of nearly 3 billion people, totaling 277 GB of data.
• 💸 Initially, hackers attempted to sell the database for $3.5 million but later decided to give it away for free to gain reputation.
• 📚 The leaked data includes sensitive information such as names, dates of birth, addresses, phone numbers, and social security numbers.
• 🇺🇸 In the United States, social security numbers are crucial for financial transactions and security verifications.
• 🏠 The data could be misused to shut off utilities, open new accounts, or even facilitate SIM swapping attacks.
• 🔄 The data was stolen from National Public Data, which aggregates information through web scraping and data purchases without consent.
• 🔒 The breach highlights the importance of securing personal data and the potential consequences of inadequate data protection.
• 🔎 Upon analysis, it appears that the same individual's data is repeated multiple times in the leaked database.
• 👤 Individuals with minimal online presence or who used data opt-out services were less likely to be found in the leak.
• 📉 The actual number of unique individuals affected might be less than initially reported, but still represents a significant portion of the US population.
• 💡 The incident underscores the need for better security practices and potential legal repercussions for companies that mishandle personal data.

Q & A

What was the size of the data leak mentioned in the script?

The data leak mentioned in the script was 277 GB uncompressed.

How many people's personal data was supposedly included in the data leak?

The data leak supposedly contained personal data of almost 3 billion people.

What kind of data points were included in the leaked database?

The data points included first name, last name, date of birth, address, phone number, and social security number.

What was the initial asking price for the stolen database?

The hackers initially tried to sell the database for $3.5 million.

Why did the hackers decide to give the database away for free?

The hackers decided to give the database away for free to earn reputation within the hacker forum.

How could the leaked social security numbers be misused according to the script?

The leaked social security numbers could be used to shut off utilities, open new utility accounts, or perform SIM swapping attacks to gain access to personal accounts.

What is SIM swapping and how does it work?

SIM swapping is a type of attack where an attacker tricks a mobile carrier into transferring a phone number to a SIM card they control, allowing them to intercept calls and text messages, including two-factor authentication codes.

Where was the data stolen from, as mentioned in the script?

The data was stolen from National Public Data, which provides an API service for background check services.

How did National Public Data obtain the data?

National Public Data obtained the data through web scraping across public and non-public sources and by purchasing data from data brokers, all without consent.

What was the actual number of unique individuals affected by the data leak according to the script?

The actual number of unique individuals affected by the data leak is likely to be an order of magnitude less than 3 billion, possibly around 200 million.

What was the observation regarding people whose records were not found in the data leak?

People whose records were not found in the data leak often used data opt-out services or had a minimal online footprint, suggesting they might be 'off-grid'.

What was the script's suggestion for people to do in response to the data leak?

The script suggested that people should keep an eye out for identity theft, monitor for unauthorized credit cards or utility accounts opened in their name, and follow the outcome of the class-action lawsuit against National Public Data.