Lawsuit Alleges Hackers May Have Stolen More Than 2.7 Billion Records, Including Social Security Numbers

Mar. 15, 2025

Stock photo of social security cards.Photo:Getty

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A new class action lawsuit claims that hackers have gained access to personal information — including Social Security numbers — of “billions of individuals.”The lawsuit, filed on behalf of California resident Christopher Hofmann, alleges that a National Public Data breach resulted in his personal information being leaked to the dark web.Bloomberg Lawwas the first to report the lawsuit.In the data breach, which allegedly happened around four months ago, a hacker group named USDoD attained unencrypted information of billions of people from National Public Data, which is a Florida-based background check company,according to the lawsuit.A hacker then allegedly leaked a version of the stolen data for free on a hacking forum tech site, technology news websiteBleeping Computerreported.The stolen information allegedly includes physical addresses for nearly 3 billion individuals and names of siblings and parents — all of which could allow cyber criminals to have unauthorized access to financial accounts or to have the ability to take out loans on behalf of other individuals, according toCBS News.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The lawsuit also alleges that those who may have had their personal information compromised weren’t alerted to the development.“In fact, upon information and belief, the vast majority of Class Members were unaware that their sensitive [personal information] had been compromised, and that they were, and continue to be, at significant risk of identity theft and various other forms of personal, social, and financial harm,” the lawsuit claims.If the hack is confirmed, it would be the largest-ever data breach in terms of affected people, per Bloomberg.In light of the lawsuit, experts suggest consumers should think about freezing their credit files at the three big credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.

A new class action lawsuit claims that hackers have gained access to personal information — including Social Security numbers — of “billions of individuals.”

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of California resident Christopher Hofmann, alleges that a National Public Data breach resulted in his personal information being leaked to the dark web.Bloomberg Lawwas the first to report the lawsuit.

In the data breach, which allegedly happened around four months ago, a hacker group named USDoD attained unencrypted information of billions of people from National Public Data, which is a Florida-based background check company,according to the lawsuit.

A hacker then allegedly leaked a version of the stolen data for free on a hacking forum tech site, technology news websiteBleeping Computerreported.

The stolen information allegedly includes physical addresses for nearly 3 billion individuals and names of siblings and parents — all of which could allow cyber criminals to have unauthorized access to financial accounts or to have the ability to take out loans on behalf of other individuals, according toCBS News.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The lawsuit also alleges that those who may have had their personal information compromised weren’t alerted to the development.

“In fact, upon information and belief, the vast majority of Class Members were unaware that their sensitive [personal information] had been compromised, and that they were, and continue to be, at significant risk of identity theft and various other forms of personal, social, and financial harm,” the lawsuit claims.

If the hack is confirmed, it would be the largest-ever data breach in terms of affected people, per Bloomberg.

In light of the lawsuit, experts suggest consumers should think about freezing their credit files at the three big credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.

source: people.com