The National Public Data breach is officially the largest identity theft disaster in history. In late 2024, a background check company confirmed a catastrophic failure that exposed the Social Security Numbers and address histories of 2.9 billion individuals. If you live in the US, UK, or Canada, you are likely in this dataset.
If you live in the US, UK, or Canada, you are almost certainly in this breach.
Unlike other hacks where you “might” be affected, security experts assume this breach impacts nearly every adult with a Social Security Number.
The Bottom Line
This guide explains exactly what happened, why the company’s “bankruptcy” doesn’t fix the problem, and the 3 steps you must take to stop identity thieves from using this data to open loans in your name.
🧠 At-A-Glance: Breach Intelligence
| Detail | Information |
| Breach Date | August 2024 (Confirmed), April 2024 (Leaked) |
| People Affected | 2.9 Billion Records (Est. 170M+ Unique People) |
| Data Exposed | Social Security Numbers, Full Names, 30-Year Address History |
| Risk Level | CRITICAL (Life-Long) |
| Status | Company filed for Bankruptcy (Dec 2024) |
What Happened? (The “Scraping” Disaster)
National Public Data was not a company you signed up for. They were a “Data Broker” that scraped public records (court filings, voter logs) to build profiles on you without your consent.
In April 2024, a hacker group known as USDoD stole the entire database. They didn’t just hack a password; they downloaded the unencrypted backend, stealing 277GB of data.
The 2026 Status Update:
After the breach, NPD filed for bankruptcy and “shut down” operations in late 2024. However, reports indicate the stolen data is still circulating freely on the Dark Web. The company is gone, but your data is still out there.
What Data Was Stolen? (The Inventory)
This is not a simple email leak. This is an Identity Kit. The leak contained:
- Social Security Numbers (SSNs): The most damaging part. Both you and your deceased relatives may be exposed.
- Full Legal Names
- 30-Year Address History: Every place you have lived for the last three decades.
- Family Trees: The data linked you to your parents, siblings, and relatives.
⚠️ The Danger: Hackers use the “Family Tree” data to answer security questions like “What is your mother’s maiden name?” or “What street did you live on in 2010?” to bypass bank security.
Why This Breach Is Dangerous (Threat Mapping)
Because this leak focuses on SSNs and Address History, the risk is Financial Identity Theft, not just account hacking.
1. Synthetic Identity Fraud
Criminals use your real SSN but pair it with a fake name to take out loans. Because the name is fake, you might not notice the debt on your credit report for years.
2. The “Family” Phishing Scam
Hackers know your mother’s name and where she lives. They can send you hyper-realistic texts pretending to be a family member in trouble.
3. Tax Fraud
Criminals can use your SSN to file a fake tax return and steal your refund check before you even file.
Your Action Plan (The Fix)
Because this is a Social Security Number leak, changing your passwords is not enough. You must lock the financial system.
✅ Step 1: Verify Your Status
Unsure if you were part of the 2.9 billion records?
👉 Use our [Breach Check Guide] to verify if your data is in the NPD files.
🔐 Step 2: The “Nuclear” Option (Mandatory)
Since your SSN is public, you cannot “remove” it. You must make it useless.
- Action: You must [Link: Freeze Your Credit (Phase 1)] at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion immediately.
- Why: This stops anyone (including you) from opening a new credit card or loan. It is the only way to stop SSN fraud.
⚠️ Step 3: Watch Your Mailbox
- Action: If you receive a letter from the IRS about a “duplicate tax return,” or a credit card in the mail you didn’t apply for, it is happening. Report it to
IdentityTheft.govimmediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will National Public Data pay me?
Likely not. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to avoid paying massive damages. Do not wait for a settlement check to protect yourself.
Can I remove my data from the Dark Web?
No. Once a file this size is leaked (277GB), it is copied thousands of times. You cannot delete it; you can only freeze your credit so the data becomes worthless to thieves.
Does this affect my children?
Yes. If your children have SSNs, they may be in the database. You should freeze their credit as well.
🛡️ Was your SSN exposed?
Don’t wait for the loan rejection letter. We have built a step-by-step protocol to lock down your credit files.
👉 [Start the PixelDefence Protocol Now]
📂 Related Breach Intelligence
Don’t stop here. If your data was in this breach, it is likely in these as well. Check your exposure status in our other Deep Dives:
- [The 50 Biggest Data Leaks in History]: See the full ranking of the most dangerous hacks by “Danger Score.”
- [National Public Data Breach (2.9 Billion Records)]: The massive 2024 leak that exposed the Social Security Numbers of nearly every US adult.
- [Equifax Data Breach Guide]: Why the 2017 “Forever Leak” is the reason you must freeze your credit today.
- [AT&T Call Log Disaster]: How hackers stole the phone records of 86 million customers (and what to do now that the settlement is closed).
- [Facebook Data Breach Guide]: How the “Scraping” leak exposed 533 million phone numbers to spammers.
- [Google+ Data Breach Cover-Up]: The twin API failures that forced Google to shut down its social network.
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