Massive Data Breach Exposes 2.7 Billion Records on Dark Web: What You Need to Know

In a chilling reminder of the vulnerabilities inherent in the digital age, a staggering 2.7 billion records were leaked on the dark web in August, exposing sensitive personal information, including Social Security numbers and other Personally Identifiable Information (PII). This breach, one of the largest in history, is believed to have originated from a company that was “scraping” and compiling vast amounts of personal data for use in background checks and other investigative purposes. 

“Scraping” is the automated process of extracting data about individuals from websites, social media platforms, public forums, and other online sources, using automatic software tools that systematically collect and compile personal details such as names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, social media profiles, and even more sensitive information like financial details and medical records. The implications of this data leak are far-reaching, affecting billions of individuals and raising serious concerns about data security and privacy.

The Scope of the Breach: What Was Leaked?

The scale of this breach is almost unfathomable. The data dump, consisting of 277GB of unencrypted records, was allegedly made available on a dark web forum by a user named “Fenice.” The records include not only the names and Social Security numbers of individuals but also mailing addresses, and in some cases, even the names of relatives.

The breach is believed to be linked to a cybercriminal group known as USDoD, which had previously attempted to sell a database containing 2.9 billion records for $3.5 million. The database was claimed to include information on individuals from the U.S., U.K., and Canada. The data dump that surfaced in August may have been orchestrated by another threat actor named “SXUL,” who possibly obtained the database from USDoD.

The leaked data appears to have been compiled from National Public Data, also known as Jerico Pictures. Interestingly, the data dump does not include information on individuals who have used data opt-out services, which allows people to limit the amount of personal information available to the public.

What Data Was Exposed?

The records leaked on the dark web contain a variety of personal information. The records typically include:

• Name
• Social Security Number
• Mailing Addresses (including previous addresses)
• Possible Aliases
• Names of Relatives (in some cases)

The data may not be entirely accurate or up-to-date. Some individuals reported that their Social Security numbers were incorrectly associated with other people, and others found that their current addresses were not included in the data.

Impact of the Data Breach: Legal Ramifications

The sheer volume of data leaked poses significant risks to individuals, especially those living in the United States, where the majority of the data appears to originate. The breach has already led to multiple class-action lawsuits against National Public Data, which is accused of failing to adequately protect the personal information it collected. National Public Data has yet to publicly acknowledge the breach, but the details extracted from lawsuit materials suggest that it is facing potentially serious governmental scrutiny. The unencrypted state of the leaked records suggests that encryption and multi-factor authentication were either insufficient or non-existent.

For those affected, the consequences can be severe. With Social Security numbers, names, and addresses readily available, individuals are at heightened risk for identity theft and fraud. Cybercriminals can use this information to open fraudulent accounts, take out loans, or commit other forms of financial fraud.

How to Protect Yourself

To check whether your information may have been compromised in this breach, there are several steps you can take:

1. Dark Web Monitoring: Make sure there is monitoring of high-risk Dark Web services like Tor, I2P, and Freenet to identify compromised credentials and PII. Secnap’s 24/7 Security Operations Center sends alerts on any Dark Web findings and can provide regular reports to ensure swift action is taken.
2. Monitor Your Credit Report: Regularly check your credit report for any signs of fraudulent activity. You can obtain a free credit report annually from each of the three major credit bureaus.
3. Freeze Your Credit: Consider placing a freeze on your credit to prevent new accounts from being opened in your name. This is a powerful tool against identity theft and can be lifted temporarily if you need to apply for credit.
4. Be Vigilant Against Phishing: Cybercriminals often use leaked information to craft convincing phishing emails, text messages, or phone calls. Be cautious about any unsolicited communications asking for personal information. No institution will ever contact you for your passwords or multi-factor authentication.
5. Use Strong, Unique Passwords: Ensure that your online accounts are secured with strong, unique passwords. Consider using a password manager to keep track of them.
6. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication: Whenever possible, enable multi-factor authentication on your accounts. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification.

The Role of Businesses in Data Security

The National Public Data breach underscores the critical role businesses play in safeguarding personal information. Companies that collect and store sensitive data must implement comprehensive security measures to protect it from unauthorized access.

Key Security Measures for Businesses

• Encryption: All sensitive data should be encrypted, both in transit and at rest, to prevent unauthorized access.
• Multi-Factor Authentication: Implement multi-factor authentication for accessing sensitive data, ensuring that even if credentials are compromised, unauthorized access is still difficult.
• Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits to identify and address vulnerabilities in your systems.
• Dark Web Monitoring: Detect compromised credentials and sensitive information before they can be exploited by cybercriminals.
• Employee Training: Train employees on cybersecurity best practices, including recognizing phishing attempts and using strong passwords.
• Vulnerability management: Beyond patch management, be aware of vulnerabilities that exist in your environment that may not have patches available and take steps to harden them against attacks.
• Threat Detection: Use advanced threat detection tools and systems to monitor for unusual activity that could indicate a security breach. SECNAP’s Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service provides a comprehensive cybersecurity solution that constantly monitors your network, endpoints, devices, and cloud environments to identify threats.

The Importance of Data Opt-Out Services

One of the few pieces of good news to emerge from this breach is that individuals who had used data opt-out services were not included in the leaked records. This highlights the importance of using such services to protect your privacy. Data opt-out services allow individuals to remove their personal information from public databases, making it less accessible to cybercriminals.

If you haven’t already, consider signing up for a data opt-out service to minimize the amount of personal information that is publicly available. While it won’t protect you from all types of data breaches, it can reduce your risk.

A Wake-Up Call for Data Security

The National Public Data breach is a stark reminder of the importance of data security in our increasingly digital world. With billions of records leaked and millions of individuals potentially affected, the breach serves as a wake-up call for both individuals and businesses to take data security seriously.

For individuals, this means taking proactive steps to protect personal information, such as monitoring credit reports and using data opt-out services. For businesses, it means implementing robust security measures to safeguard the sensitive data they collect and store, and properly securing their IT environments against cybercriminals.

In the end, the responsibility for data security lies with all of us. By staying informed and vigilant, we can better protect ourselves and our data from the growing threat of cybercrime.

SECNAP’s Approach

At SECNAP, we recognized the need for next-gen cybersecurity, combining cutting-edge technology with expert human intervention and threat hunting to keep organizations safe from even the most sophisticated threats. That is why we developed CloudJacket, a Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service inspired by the robust cybersecurity strategies of large financial institutions. CloudJacket provides 24/7 protection by continuously monitoring your network, endpoints, and cloud environments for threats like malware and ransomware. Our expert team swiftly identifies, investigates, and neutralizes threats, ensuring your organization stays secure, even without in-house cybersecurity staff.

Our proactive Dark Web Monitoring connects to multiple high-risk Dark Web services, including Tor, I2P, and Freenet, to search for compromised credentials. These technologies allow us to provide intelligent insight into compromised credentials and PII. Our 24/7 Security Operations Center will alert you immediately when your data is identified on the Dark Web.

Stay ahead of cyber threats—connect with us today to protect your sensitive data, call 954-350-0712.