Hackers Steal Hundreds of Millions of American Social Security Numbers in Major Data breach

‍Breach Overview

In a massive cyberattack that has shaken both the public and private sectors, hackers have reportedly stolen millions of Social Security numbers from a major U.S. database, “National Public Data.” The breach, believed to have occurred earlier this year, exposed the sensitive personal data of over 2.9 billion individuals, prompting concerns over the future of data protection in the country.

Initial reports suggest that the attackers gained access to the database through a secondary vendor’s security lapses. The hackers were able to obtain login credentials, which gave them access to the database containing Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and other personal information.

The breach was not detected until days after the hackers had already infiltrated the system, allowing them to exfiltrate the data undetected. According to IBM's Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024, the average time to identify and contain a breach is 258 days. In this case, the delay in detection has magnified the potential damage, as the stolen Social Security numbers could be sold on the dark web or used for identity theft.

Implications of the Breach

This breach poses significant risks to the affected individuals. With Social Security numbers in hand, criminals can commit identity theft, open fraudulent bank accounts, apply for loans, or file fake tax returns. The repercussions could last for years, as individuals grapple with the fallout from the stolen information being used in various forms of fraud.

For companies, the incident underscores the urgent need for robust Security Awareness Training to prevent such attacks. According to IBM’s report, “about 40% of all breaches involved data distributed across multiple environments, such as public clouds, private clouds and on premises” highlighting the widespread nature of this threat. Businesses and government agencies alike must take immediate action to improve employee training and implement stronger cybersecurity defenses.

The breach also highlights the growing need for more stringent data protection regulations, especially as cyberattacks become more sophisticated. To read more on how to protect your organization from similar incidents, visit our product page.

Learn more about the impact of the breach and future data security challenges here.