A new proposed class action lawsuit alleges that approximately 2.9 billion people may have had their personal information compromised in a massive data breach linked to a background check company, National Public Data. This breach could potentially affect all Americans, with sensitive data such as full names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and family information exposed. The incident reportedly occurred in April 2024 due to inadequate data protection measures. While experts warn that this breach could have widespread implications, some argue that the actual number of individuals affected may be lower, especially if multiple records per individual were involved or if the leaked information was already publicly accessible. Consumers are urged to remain vigilant, as data breaches have become commonplace. The best protective measure recommended is to freeze your credit, which can help limit access to your information and mitigate the risk of identity theft.
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