Hackers may have stolen every social security number

[bdcardinal]

Years ago, my SS# was printed on every check that I wrote.

If not, they asked for it and hand wrote it on the check, if in a strange area.
MY...how times have changed!

Back when I went to junior college in the 2001-2003 timeframe our SS# was our student ID number and would be posted with grades outside the classroom doors. O and also keep all credit frozen including the small random places.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

Lots of articles out there - if you don't like this source. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/social-security-number-leak-npd-breach-what-to-know/

I have seen it published as millions to every - so who knows.

That hacker claimed the stolen files include 2.7 billion records, with each listing a person's full name, address, date of birth, Social Security number and phone number, Bleeping Computer said. While it's unclear how many people that includes, it's likely "that everyone with a Social Security number was impacted," said Cliff Steinhauer, director of information security and engagement at The National Cybersecurity Alliance, a nonprofit that promotes online safety.

There are many similar companies that scrape public data to create files on consumers, which they then sell to other businesses, Steinhauer said.

"They are data brokers that collect and sell data about people, sometimes for background check purposes," he said. "It's because there's no national privacy law in the U.S. — there is no law against them collecting this data against our consent."


Here is my question - how is my social security number public data?

Perfect example of why Digital ID is the most insane idea of them all.

 

[MasterSolenoid]

Freeze your credit reports if you haven't already.

I believe this is the MOST important action a person can take.
Unfortunately, it takes an effort, and a lot of people are lazy.

 

[Sumboodie]

Yep, always have your credit frozen.

Never heard of that before. How long does it take to thaw if I need a loan?

 

[dishdude]

Never heard of that before. How long does it take to thaw if I need a loan?

A few clicks and it'll be unfrozen in 10 mins.

 

[MasterSolenoid]

Yep, always have your credit frozen.

I have mine frozen.
Once I was on Amazon.com and, (just being curious) I applied for an Amazon Credit Card.
I was immediately DENIED (frozen credit report), .... made me feel good.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

A few clicks and it'll be unfrozen in 10 mins.

Depending on your score, of course. You can give it a defrost but the banks may say “you’re on a deep-freeze cycle, buddy!”

 

[THORROMIG]

I still remember in Pennsylvania when your Social Security number was on your drivers license. These crooks committing these felonies are paid.

 

[eljefino]

Years ago, my SS# was printed on every check that I wrote.

If not, they asked for it and hand wrote it on the check, if in a strange area.
MY...how times have changed!

My first drivers license number was my SSN, and I remember when it was on the IRS address stickers for my 1040 that came in the mail!

I came up with an elaborate 19 character password for the three major credit bureaus, locking them super tight. Then when I wanted to unlock them they wanted the last four digits of my SSN and zip code, pretty much. Augh!

 

[loneryder]

Mine has been reported out there so much that I have 3 credit monitors going. Two are free from AT&T and Frontier. Had to change my Apple ID because somebody in China kept trying to sign in to my account. Apple blocked them. It's getting ridiculous!

 

[loneryder]

Here will come a push for Digital ID

Who thinks those will be secure??

 

[SC Maintenance]

Who thinks those will be secure??

Probably no one, ever.

But they will be great anyway

 

[dubber09]

Who thinks those will be secure??

That's not the point, point is to tighten grip on everything anyone does, finances, property, healthcare, travel, shutting down free speech etc.

 

[SupremePossum]

I'm just glad BITOG added the function that stars out SSN's, give it a try and post yours

***-**-****

 

[SC Maintenance]

I'm just glad BITOG added the function that stars out SSN's, give it a try and post yours

***-**-****

You know darn well anyone obsessing over oil changes is for sure going to have the latest security update.

I am waiting for the secure BITOG digital wallet.

 

[bunnspecial]

Years ago, my SS# was printed on every check that I wrote.

If not, they asked for it and hand wrote it on the check, if in a strange area.
MY...how times have changed!

Among too many other hobbies, I collect old cameras.

You could look through my collection and find a half dozen engraved(by electropen or other crude method) with the owner’s name, SSN, and address. There are probably 20+ more SSNs I have from those, and some scattered DLs either by themselves or with an SSN. Heck, my whole Hasselblad kit belonged to a now retired but well known pro in Louisville, and every piece has his SSN on it plus a scattering of Dymo labels.

SSNs were definitely used a lot more casually in the past…and my grandfather was one of the ones with an electropen putting his on everything.

 

[Owen Lucas]

Are they gonna send me some money?

$3.50 Uber Eats gift card in 7 years.

Gen whatever the latest doesn't give a rat for privacy, seems like

It won't matter eventually. Some futurists predict a singularity where privacy no longer exists with an ETA of 20 years or less. From facial recognition being everywhere and more advanced tracking technologies of our mobile devices, your face will be your ID. Anyone will be able to look up your identity via phone pic or VR glasses. The police can already do it, imagine what capabilities we will have in 10 years.

There are already numerous search engines for finding the identity of someone based on a photo such as pimeyes.com. These sites have crawled and scraped the internet, Facebook, everything really to build a database and connect the dots to track someone down. There is no stopping this, the database will only become larger and software increasingly powerful as more information becomes interconnected. Add in some AI, future tech, more compromised data, and we'll know who everyone is and where they likely will be in a few hours. A new authentication method will have to be invented.

They didn't have any cloud backups because something about the IT director and money. They lost everything.

What happened to the company? Did they close up shop? Did the IT director get flogged by the CEO or the otherward around?

 

[Pew]

What happened to the company? Did they close up shop? Did the IT director get flogged by the CEO or the otherward around?

It was a school district. Luckily the staff and student data were stored somewhere else but I'm not sure what happened to the guy that brought 'it' in.

 

[svtrit]

How does one freeze their credit? I’ve never heard of that.

 

[Pew]

How does one freeze their credit? I’ve never heard of that.

You go to each reporting credit recording bureau's website and login or you can call them. I've had mine frozen for the past 3 years and the amount of junk offer mail I get for credit cards and loans has stopped.