Description

National Public Data, a service provided by Jerico Pictures Inc., has suffered a severe data breach. The hacker known as “Fenice” has leaked 2.9 billion records, including full names, addresses, and Social Security Numbers (SSNs) in plain text. The compromised data, which totals 277GB, was released on Breach Forums, a notorious hacker platform. This breach follows an earlier incident in April 2024, when a hacker named “sxul” claimed to have breached the company and put the database up for sale. A USDoD hacker later offered the stolen data for $3.5 million, though it is unclear if the data was sold. Jerico Pictures Inc. is now facing substantial legal challenges due to the breach. The leaked data includes personal information such as full names, addresses, cities, states, ZIP codes, and SSNs. The exposure of SSNs poses a significant risk of identity theft and financial fraud. Cybercriminals could use these SSNs to open fraudulent credit accounts, secure loans, and file false tax returns, leading to substantial financial loss and long-term credit damage for affected individuals. The breach represents one of the largest cybersecurity incidents in recent years, comparable to the Yahoo breach affecting 3 billion users. The lifelong nature of SSNs means that affected individuals may face ongoing risks and financial instability.