NEW YORK (AP) — Equifax said Thursday that an additional 2.4 million Americans were impacted by last year’s data breach, however these newly disclosed consumers had significantly less personal information stolen.
The company says the additional consumers only had their names and a partial driver’s license number stolen by the attackers, unlike the original 145.5 million Americans who had their Social Security numbers impacted. Attackers were unable to get the state where the license was issued, the date of issuance or its expiration date.
In total, roughly 147.9 million Americans have been impacted by Equifax’s data breach. It remains the largest data breach of personal information in history.
The company says they were able to find the additional 2.4 million Americans by cross referencing names with partial driver’s license numbers using both internal and external data sources. These Americans were not found in the original breach because Equifax had focused its investigation on those with Social Security numbers impacted. Individuals with stolen Social Security numbers are generally more at risk for identity theft because of how prolific Social Security numbers are used in identity verification.
Equifax Inc. says it will reach out to all newly impacted consumers and will provide the same credit monitoring and identity theft protection services they have been offering to the original victims.
I feel so much safer knowing the Mango Mussolini is doing everything in his power to prevent hacking…
Yet the collection of and profiting on your personal data continues unabated and unwanted!
Thanks, but no.
This is what we should be worrying about instead of russian dupes in the white house. But instead we get to worry about both.
Probably all the kids whose parents they tricked into enrolling after the last breach. Have you seen the Equifax ad pitch to soccer moms and safety dads about the creepy “dark web” coming to snatch junior?