National Public Data probably contains your personal information, but has it been leaked?

Little was announced or known about National Public Data before it suffered a massive data breach that exposed personal information, including addresses and Social Security numbers, of approximately 2.9 billion people.

As lawsuits against National Public Data begin to pile up, here’s what you need to know about centralized personal data collection companies, and steps you can take now to find out if your personal data has been compromised.

What is National Public Data?

National Public Data is a Florida-based credit and criminal background check company operated by Jerico Pictures, Inc.

“Our services are currently used by investigators, background check websites, data resellers, mobile apps and applications,” National Public Data’s website states. “They provide access to the highest level of public information search available on the Internet.”

Has your personal information been leaked by state-run data? How to find out

National Public Data does not provide a way for people to directly contact the company to check whether their data has been leaked.

Instead, the company’s website recommends monitoring your credit report and staying in touch with the three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

National Public Data also recommends freezing your credit cards if you believe you have been a victim of a National Public Data breach.

“As a first step, we recommend closely monitoring your financial accounts and contacting your financial institution immediately if you notice any unauthorized activity,” advises National Public Data. “As a second step, we recommend contacting the three U.S. credit reporting agencies by calling 1-877-322-8228 or logging on to www.annualcreditreport.com to obtain a free credit report from each agency.”