Lawsuit sparks claim that Social Security numbers were leaked as part of data breach

A class action lawsuit has sparked a viral claim that the Social Security numbers of all U.S. citizens were leaked as part of a data breach this year. NBC News' Yasmin Vossoughian talks to cybersecurity expert David Kennedy about the breach. 

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[hangender]

Why is NPD selling my SSN in the first place? If I were to sell SSN I would be immediate arrested by FBI

[albertoserrano]

So private companies sell public records for profit and now got duped by a disgruntled employee spilling the beans

[JTSunriseMusic]

Why not make corporations liable for not securing data, why are these companies in business

[warlockpaladin]

"Not to be used as identification."
Who's sick idea was it to turn these numbers into the ONLY identification numbers that anyone is even able to use?

[john_wick]

This breach was not disclosed until my credit monitor alert me... NPD needs to pay me for selling my info in the first place!

[genghiscon]

Why is it that this is just now hitting the mainstream when all the independent, local, and smaller outlets have been saying it all day. Absolutely ridiculous.

[Rocky-crch]

Law suit against all company's who buy and sale personal info.

[mattmarrin]

Our systems are a bad joke, a major scam or both.

[mm-lnsw]

my SSN was stolen 8 years ago (and used), here’s what i did
1: locked my credit
2: went to my bank & set up a password of sorts, basically whenever i call or go into the bank i have to say this password or they won’t help me with anything
3. went to my local SS office & signed a statement to report my SSN as stolen and that certain income under it was not mine

stay vigilant

[RetroBerner]

Why does NPD even have access to this data? It should be illegal for a private company to sell private data, especially when nobody signed any agreement giving them permission.

[Ed]

Why isn’t this a national emergency, why is this problem nowhere near breaking news.?

[Andy-dchr]

And yet the US Government makes it so difficult to get a new SSN.

[mrbuckmeister]

We need to make it illegal for companies to maintain a database of our social security numbers. That's our data not theirs. No should get to sell people our social security number.

[danbendix]

Why does it take a class action lawsuit to bring this to light? Why hasn't Social Security informed us? What is the DoJ doing about this?

[rfa]

"The horse is out of the barn but we closed the door so all is FINE."

[penguin]

I am a cybersecurity engineer and have performed risk assessments on dozens of companies. When it comes to data security, most companies are not concerned about government regulations, and are far more afraid of tarnishing their brand. Therefore, companies that don't deal directly with the public, like NPD, don't have an incentive to maintain good cybersecurity. I was once directly told by a CEO of a company that transmits medical records that he does not even consider HIPAA regulations.

[mrrabbit]

Sickening. Companies should start paying not only money but with prison sentences.

[jlalvarado]

Data collection companies need to be outlawed

[rightsdontcomewithpermits]

We are all a product. That is why we have numbers. Like a cattle.

[johnackley]

Class action outcome will be free credit report for a few years, what a joke