Recently, the National Public Data (NPD) confirmed that it fell victim to a massive security breach dating back to December of the previous year. This breach involved the exposure of a database containing a staggering 2.9 billion lines of sensitive data, including Social Security numbers.
In a shocking revelation, it was reported that a website similar to NPD, called recordscheck.net, was found hosting an archive that contained site logins and source code in plaintext. This discovery raised concerns as it indicated that accessing this data could potentially lead to consumer record compromise similar to what happened with NPD.
Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the leaked data included email information belonging to NPD founder Salvatore Verini. Verini, who is an actor and retired sheriff’s deputy from Florida, claimed that the leaked file contained an old version of the website with non-functional code. He also mentioned that the site would be shutting down in the coming week due to the ongoing investigation.
Surprisingly, it was discovered that Verini had provided a positive testimonial for Creation Next, a web developer company mentioned in the archived source code. This connection raised suspicions regarding the security practices of NPD and the extent of their vulnerability to cyber threats.
In response to the breach, several websites, such as npdbreach.com and npd.pentester.com, emerged offering services to check if an individual’s information was included in the leaked data. Unfortunately, utilizing these services requires users to input personal information such as their name, birth year, and potentially their Social Security number, raising concerns about privacy and data security.
The NPD security breach serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present dangers of cyber threats and the importance of robust security measures. The incident highlights the need for organizations to prioritize data protection and implement stringent security protocols to safeguard sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands. As internet users, it is crucial to remain vigilant and exercise caution when sharing personal information online to mitigate the risks associated with potential data breaches.
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