News reports say that every American’s social security number has been hacked and released to the dark web. 2.9 billion records or “data points” were reportedly stolen and then held for a multi-million-dollar ransom. The ransom apparently went unpaid, and the stolen data was released to the internet. Some of it, such as social security numbers, is for sale on the dark web. Other bits of the stolen information are available through a simple Google search.
Such a breach is serious due to the sensitive nature of private consumer data. Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the world, and stolen data is worth more than gold to criminals who engage in that activity. The general public in the United States has not been much concerned about these data breaches, which have happened more regularly in the past few years.
SOURCES:
Hackers may have stolen your Social Security number in a massive breach. Here’s what to know. – CBS News
Social Security number breach: 2.9 billion records reportedly stolen; what to do now – al.com
Worried about hacked SSNs? Here’s how to protect yourself and freeze credit – The Washington Post
Every American’s Social Security number, address may have been stolen in hack | FOX 5 DC
Social Security Numbers Reportedly Stolen in Hack: What to Know – The New York Times
