How to Protect Yourself from the National Public Data Breach

What would you do if your Social Security number and other highly personal information were compromised?

Unfortunately, that situation could be a harsh reality for hundreds of millions of unsuspecting people who may have been impacted by a massive data breach of National Public Data. The organization, which houses data that employers, investigators, and other organizations use to conduct background checks, recently affirmed the breach, which occurred in late April 2024.

It’s believed that some 2.9 billion records were stolen, including Social Security numbers, phone numbers, and mailing addresses, along with years of historical data that may include past names and addresses, and even names of family members.

Even more troubling is that this information may be available on the dark web, allowing scammers to use your information to open bank accounts, apply for loans, and file fake tax returns in your name.

How to protect your personal information and accounts

You may not know for sure if your personal data has been compromised, but you can take the following precautions to protect yourself from this breach and others that may arise in the future:

• Freeze your credit. Placing a credit freeze with the three credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, will prevent identity thieves from making your credit report available to approve fake credit applications.

Freezing your credit is free and easy. Simply create an account with each of the bureaus and select freeze credit. Just know that if you plan on applying for a loan or credit card, you’ll need to unfreeze your credit to give the lender access to your credit report. Just log in to your account with the credit bureau the lender uses and select unfreeze.

• Check your credit reports. You can request one free copy of your credit report annually from each of the three credit bureaus. Just visit AnnualCreditReport.com or call 877. 322.8228.

As you review your credit reports, check for errors or unrecognized accounts. If something looks suspicious, contact the lender to get more information. If you believe an account is an error or possible fraud, file a dispute with the credit bureau. If the credit bureau suspects an account is fraudulent, they may put a security alert on your credit, which lets creditors know that your information might be compromised.

• Create new and strong passwords. Change any passwords you use for online accounts, especially if they include personal information that hackers may have obtained. Make sure all your passwords are long, unique, and include a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. A password manager app can help you create and securely store strong passwords. To change your password in our Mobile Banking app, login and tap the “My Profile” icon in the upper right, then tap “My Profile” and tap “Change Password.”
• Enroll in multifactor authentication (MFA). Sometimes a strong password isn’t enough to keep a hacker from accessing your online accounts. Enabling multifactor authentication on the apps or online services you use provides another level of security. With MFA, users must provide more information than just a username and password to access accounts. For example, you may be asked to enter a code emailed or texted to you, provide a security PIN, answer a security question, or use a biometric ID like your face or fingerprint. To turn on MFA in our Mobile Banking app, tap the “My Profile” icon in the upper right, then tap “My Profile” again, then Security Settings.
• Monitor your online accounts. Regularly check Online Banking and Mobile Banking and your account statements for suspicious activity. If you notice any, contact us immediately. To make monitoring your accounts easier, set up alerts to notify you about specific account activity, such as your account balances, purchases, or other transactions made. In our Mobile Banking app, log in and tap on the “My Profile” icon in the upper right, then tap Service Center, then Alerts.
• Be on high alert for phishing/smishing scams. Cyberthieves love to use phishing and smishing scams to lure unsuspecting victims into providing personal information or clicking on links that allow malware onto their devices. The data breach could cause a rise in these scams, so use extra caution not to click on links, open attachments, or respond to unsolicited emails or text messages.

Your security is our priority

At North Shore Bank and Abington Bank, a division of North Shore Bank, we’re dedicated to providing the highest level of data security to safeguard your accounts and personal information. If you believe your account may have been compromised, call Customer Care immediately at 877.380.BANK(2265).