Massive Data Breach Revealed: How to Check if Your Identity Is Compromised!

Introduction hey everyone welcome to today's critical update if you're concerned about whether your personal data was exposed in the massive national public data breach announced last week you're in the right place in this video we'll delve into the details of this alarming event explain the potential risks and show you how to check if your sensitive information was compromised I'll also provide some crucial steps you can take to protect yourself moving forward before we get in please give me a quick favor by liking the video and subscribing the channel also press the Bell icon so you never miss any upcoming update of Social Security let's start with what we know so far last week the national public Overview of the National Public Data Breach data breach made headlines shaking millions of Americans to their core initially reports indicated that 2.9 billion personal records were leaked a number so large it seemed almost unfathomable but just a few days ago updated information revised that figure to 1.3 billion records while this new figure is lower it's still incredibly significant affecting a vast number of individuals across the country what makes this breach particularly terrifying is the speculation that every single American yes all 334 million of us could be at risk this breach isn't just about email addresses or phone numbers it potentially involves full nams physical addresses and even Social Security numbers the implications are severe making it crucial for everyone to verify if their information was exposed data breaches are unfortunately becoming more common but the scale and scope of this one set it apart when sensitive information like Social Security numbers and home addresses are leaked it opens the door to a host of malicious activities identity theft unauthorized loans and fraudulent credit card applications are just a few examples of what can happen when this data falls into the wrong hands moreover the effects of such a reach may not be immediate cyber criminals often wait months or even years before using the stolen data making it difficult to trace and combat these illegal activities this is why constant vigilance is necessary even long after the initial breach now let's get to the part you've been waiting for how to find out if your personal data was compromised I've discovered a website and tool that allows you to check whether your name phone number email address physical address for social security number was included in the breach this tool is straightforward and doesn't require you to input your social security number something I strongly advise against doing on any site here's how to use it number one How to Check If Your Data Was Compromised visit the website I've linked the website in the description below the site is npd.com NPD stands for national public data number two input your information you'll need to enter your full name year of birth and state of residence for accuracy make sure to use your legal name if you typically go by a nickname like Mike but your legal name is Michael use the full legal name number three check the results after entering your information hit the search button the tool will scour the leak data and return a list of any matches it finds if your name appears it means your data was compromised in the breach when I tested this tool I was shocked that the amount of of information uncovered common names returned list with full addresses and partial Social Security numbers if your name is on the list it's a clear indication that your personal data has been exposed here are the steps to protect Protecting Your Social Security Number yourself if you find that your information was compromised it's essential to take immediate action number one enroll in credit monitoring while some services offer free credit monitoring for a limited time I recommend regularly checking your credit report on their own this allows you to keep a close eye on any suspicious activity personally I use Chase Credit Journey which is a free tool provided by Chase Bank it monitors my credit and sends alerts for any unusual activity such as new accounts being opened in my name many financial institutions offer similar services so check with your bank or credit card provider number two freeze your credit consider placing a freeze on your credit reports with the major credit bureaus Equifax Experian and Transunion a credit freeze prevents lenders from accessing your credit report making it much harder for identity feed to open accounts in your name number three monitor your financial accounts regularly review your bank and credit card statements for any unauthorized transactions set up account alerts to notify you of any large or unusual transactions number four be worry of fishing scams in the wake of a data breach fishing scams often increase be cautious of any unsolicited emails phone calls or text messages asking for personal information always verify the identity of the sender before responding number five report suspicious activity if you notice any unauthorized activity report it to your financial institution immediately you should also file a report with the Federal Trade Commission FTC identity theft.gov one of the most concerning aspects of a data breach like this is that the repercussions can be longlasting it's not uncommon for cyber criminals to sit on Stolen data for months or even years before using it this means that while you might not see any suspicious activity on your accounts immediately that doesn't mean you're in the clear to stay protected in the long term it's essential to take proactive Long-Term Data Protection Strategies steps first regularly check your credit report you're entitled to a free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus once a year so stagger your request to monitor your credit throughout the year effectively additionally if your email was part of the breach update your passwords immediately ensure that you use strong unique passwords for each of your accounts and considered using a password manager to keep track of them securely finally stay informed by keeping up with news about the breach and any new developments if additional information is released regarding the type of data compromised or new security measures staying informed will allow you to respond promptly and protect your information the national public data Conclusion breach is a stark reminder of how vulnerable our personal information can be while we can't always prevent these breaches we can take steps to mitigate the damage and protect ourselves moving forward I hope this video has provided you with the tools and information you need to safeguard your identity please do your friends family and social media networks a huge favor share this video so they can also check their personal information and take necessary precautions don't forget to subscribe for more updates and tips on protecting your financial health check out the other videos on the channel and stay safe out there