Many people were stunned last week to learn of all the information that was exposed in the National Public Data breach. And the news continues to get worse. Along with personal data, passwords and usernames were published during the NPD data leak.
Passwords and Usernames Published on Site Connected to NPD
The NPD data leak involved unauthorized access to sensitive personal information from a significant number of individuals. Hackers gained entry to the National Public Data system last December, leading to the exposure of a wide range of data, including names, addresses, social security numbers, email addresses, and financial information.
The National Public Data (NPD) system collects, manages, and disseminates public data. This data can encompass a wide range of information, including demographic statistics, economic indicators, public health data, and other relevant statistics that are made available to the public for transparency and research purposes.
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In addition to the personal data, usernames and passwords were also compromised in the NPD data leak, raising serious concerns about identity theft and fraud. The breach was discovered during routine security checks, but the extent of the damage became clear only after another site NPD is connected to, recordscheck.net, accidentally published admin passwords and source code on the homepage. It was then discovered that a file containing usernames and passwords was on the sister site.
Following the breach, the organization took steps to secure its systems, including enhancing security protocols and notifying affected individuals. NPD also provided guidance on how to protect against identity theft and monitor for suspicious activity. Trend Micro VPN can be a great tool to help protect your information.
Moving Forward After the NPD Data Breach
With the breach reportedly affecting millions of individuals, and the stolen data encompassing various personal identifiers, it raises concerns about how to move forward. NPD took immediate action, but it still leaves questions about the safety of all of our information – not just that stored at NPD.
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Experts emphasize the importance of robust cybersecurity practices. This includes regular software updates, employee training on security protocols, and implementing advanced encryption methods to protect sensitive data.
Overall, the NPD data breach underscores the critical need for both organizations and individuals to prioritize data security in an increasingly interconnected world. As technology evolves, so, too, do the methods employed by cybercriminals, making vigilance and preparedness essential.
Learn how data can be collected through web scraping. You may also be interested in learning about the security threats in the dark web.
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Laura Tucker –
Contributor
Laura has spent more than 20 years writing news, reviews, and op-eds, with the majority of those years as an editor as well. She has exclusively used Apple products for the past 35 years. In addition to writing and editing at MTE, she also runs the site’s sponsored review program.
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