In The News
The Dallas Express, September 6, 2023
Broadnax Pats Himself on Back for Ransomware Response
- …“files potentially containing sensitive information of certain individuals were accessed by the unauthorized third party, including full name, home address, Social Security number, date of birth, insurance information, clinical information, claims information, diagnosis, and other identifiers.”
- Hackers allegedly obtained the personal data of more than 26,000 people in May, including children.
KIMKOMANDO, February 6, 2023
Ever run a background check? 20 mil Truth Finder and Instant Checkmate accounts leaked
TruthFinder and Instant Checkmate are websites that offer background check services to their subscribers. They gather information from various publicly accessible sources, including court records, criminal records, social media and others to provide detailed background reports on individuals.
The two companies merged with PeopleConnect Holdings in 2020. Recently, a hacking collective claimed to have stolen a TruthFinder and Instant Checkmate user database and shared it for free on criminal forums.
The database contains the details of over 20 million users who used the services from 2011 to 2019. Leaked data includes names, email addresses, phone numbers and hashed passwords.
D Magazine, July 11, 2023
Medical City and HCA Hacker Says Stolen Data Is Now for Sale
One threat analyst said the theft may be “one of the biggest healthcare-related breaches of all time.”
The hacking watchdog site databreaches.net said it has been in contact with someone who claims to be both the hacker and the seller of the HCA data. The site first posted information about the breach on July 5. The seller wrote on a dark web forum that there were more than 27 million records for sale and noted that HCA was ranked 62 on the Fortune 500 list in revenue in 2021.
Advice From the Federal Government
How to protect yourself from identity theft
Source: https://www.usa.gov/identity-theft
- Do not answer phone calls, texts, social media messages, or email from numbers or people you do not know.
- Do not share personal information like your bank account number, Social Security number, or date of birth.
- Collect your mail every day and place a hold on your mail when you will be on vacation or away from your home.
- Review credit card and bank account statements. Watch for and report unauthorized or suspicious transactions.
- Understand how ATM skimming works and how to protect yourself
- Learn when it is safe to use a public Wi-Fi network
- Store personal information, including your Social Security card, in a safe place. Do not carry it in your wallet.
A Brief History of The Social Security Number
1935 — The Social Security Act, signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935, created Social Security, a federal safety net for elderly, unemployed and disadvantaged Americans. The main stipulation of the original Social Security Act was to pay financial benefits to retirees over age 65 based on lifetime payroll tax contributions. The Act also established the Social Security Board, which later became the Social Security Administration, to structure the Social Security Act and figure out its implementation logistics. — History.com: Social Security Act
1936 — Despite some Republicans’ contention that it was government overreach, the Social Security Act passed in the Democrat-led Congress in August 1935; and “the first SSN was issued sometime in mid-November 1936,” says Dorothy J. Clark, a Social Security spokesperson. History.com How We Got Social Security Numbers
1943 — Executive Order 9397 (3 CFR (1943-1948 Comp.) 283-284) required:
- All Federal components to use the SSN “exclusively” whenever the component found it advisable to set up a new identification system for individuals.
- The Social Security Board to cooperate with Federal uses of the number by issuing and verifying numbers for other Federal agencies
1962 — The Civil Service Commission adopted the SSN as an official Federal employee identifier.
Internal Revenue Code Amendments (P.L. 87-397) required each taxpayer to furnish identifying number for tax reporting.
1970 — Bank Records and Foreign Transactions Act (P.L. 91-508) required all banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions and brokers/dealers in securities to obtain the SSNs of all of their customers. Also, financial institutions were required to file a report with the IRS, including the SSN of the customer, for any transaction involving more than $10,000.
1995 — SCOTUS, McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Commission (1995), ruled that individuals have a right to engage in anonymous political speech.
2023 — What Can Someone Do With the Last Four Digits of Your SSN or Debit Card?
Many people are unaware that the last four digits of the SSN (social security number) are the random and most critical of the number. That’s why hackers, identity thieves, and those on the dark web are after these digits. Read more from lotibima.com
He causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, so that no one may buy or sell, except he who has the mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name.
Revelation 13:16-17 MEV
In recent days, my church required a background check using my Social Security Number to qualify to teach the Bible to adults. I offered to give the “last four,” but I learned the “last four” are what identity thieves look for. Imagine having to disclose your tax ID to teach the Bible.
Knowledge is Power; Ignorance is a Choice.
John White
Rockwall, Texas
John N. White 