How your Social Security Number (SSN) became a hacker’s dream — And what the United States isn’t doing about It!

In April 2024, National Public Data (NPD), operating as Jerico Pictures, experienced a massive data breach, compromising around 2.9 billion records. This isn’t just another headline - it’s a wake-up call that reveals two deep-rooted cybersecurity and privacy issues in the U.S. that we simply can’t ignore.

Let’s get straight to the point: it’s time to rethink the SSN, at least in its current form! With the presidential elections around the corner, this is the perfect moment to push for real change. We need to act fast!

Problem 1: The Social Security Number — An outdated relic

The SSN is like a skeleton key in the U.S., unlocking everything from bank accounts to medical records. But this key is far too easy to copy. In today’s world, relying on a nine-digit number as your main line of defense is downright dangerous.

Americans are constantly asked to share their SSN for the simplest administrative tasks—over the phone, online, even via email or messaging apps. This overuse increases the risk of fraud, where criminals can use your SSN to take out loans, steal benefits, or worse. The damage can be devastating: ruined credit, financial losses, and a tarnished reputation that can take years to repair.

It’s time to rethink the entire system. Simply providing an SSN should no longer be sufficient to access so many services. Authorities must implement additional layers of authentication—the technology has been available for years—or at the very least, enforce mandatory alert and confirmation systems for critical actions like opening a new credit line.

Problem 2: Critical data without consent — A recipe for disaster

Imagine discovering that a company you’ve never heard of holds your name, address, social security number, and even details about your relatives—without your consent. Scary, right? That’s exactly what happened here. Data brokers like NPD are scooping up personal information from all corners of the internet, often without the knowledge or approval of the individuals involved.

Sure, there are ways to opt out, but let’s be real—these processes are complex, time-consuming, and rarely guarantee full removal of your data. The truth is, privacy in the digital age needs more than just an opt-out checkbox. We need robust regulations that put the control back in the hands of the people. The rule should be simple: storing and processing SSNs must require explicit consent, and every citizen should know exactly who has access to their number.

What now?

Solving these issues won’t happen overnight, but this breach should spark some serious conversations in the upcoming elections. Let’s be clear: the U.S. must step up its game and phase out the SSN in favor of modern, secure authentication methods!

In the meantime, here are four steps you can take in the context of this NDP incident.

1. Credit Monitoring: Regularly check your credit reports for unauthorized activity—many major credit bureaus offer these reports for free.
2. Fraud Alerts: Set?up fraud alerts and credit freezes to prevent new accounts from being opened in your name.
3. Report Identity Theft: If you notice suspicious activity, report it immediately to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at IdentityTheft.gov .

To help individuals assess whether their information was compromised in this breach, Pentester, a cybersecurity firm, has created a free database with redacted details. You can check if your data was leaked by entering your name, state, and birth year. Access the tool here: https://npd.pentester.com/