A class action lawsuit against Jerico Pictures Inc. (DBA National Public Data), a background-check company, was filed at the beginning of August due to a data breach. The breach exposed data of approximately 2.9 billion people in April with no specific date pinpointed or information on how the breach happened.
Personal data including full names, former and present addresses going back as far as 30 years, Social Security Numbers, and more was acquired by a cybercriminal group, USDoD. The hackers then tried to sell the data on the dark web for $3.5 million.
National Public Data obtained personal background-check information by scraping, a technique to collect data from websites and other online sources. It’s also been identified that the company scraped personal information from non-public sources as well.
National Public Data has not provided notice or warning to those that have had their information shared. One of the 2.9 billion people affected found out about the breach by a notification from his identify theft service.
Typically after a breach of this size, the company notifies the people affected and offers free access to identity theft protection or credit monitoring for up to two years. This has not be offered at this time from National Public Data. However, with the class action suit filed, it may become available.
If you think you were included in this breach here are some steps to take in the meantime:
- Be careful when checking your email not to fall for phishing attacks. Always check that the sender is genuine and do not click on suspicious links.
- Monitor your bank accounts and other financial accounts for suspicious activity.
- If you do not have one yet, get a identity theft account.
If you have questions or concerns about cybersecurity and would like some more information, contact us now: https://evernetco.com/call/directory/
Information gathered from: https://tinyurl.com/mf8udp2w
Eric is a Business IT cybersecurity advisor, consultant, manager, integrator, and protector who founded EVERNET in 2007. Eric co-hosts a podcast called “Finance and Technology Insights by Brian & Eric” on YouTube. Eric is a regular contributor to the EVERNET blog, writing about the latest technology news and providing his expertise in cyber security prevention and management. Meet with our CEO and say goodbye to one-size-fits-all IT support and cybersecurity.













