a16z Podcast

The SSN Breach: What Now?

21 snips
Aug 18, 2024
Joel de la Garza, a seasoned security expert, and Naftali Harris, CEO of Centrelink, delve into the massive data breach affecting nearly 3 billion records, including countless social security numbers. They discuss how such breaches happen and the dire implications for identity theft. Naftali shares insights from validating the breached dataset, while both guests emphasize the urgent need for better security measures. They also explore proactive strategies for individuals to protect themselves against evolving fraud tactics in the digital age.
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ANECDOTE

Data Acquisition and Validation

  • Naftali Harris's team acquired the leaked dataset from the dark web, confirming the breach's validity.
  • They found the data messy, with duplicates and fake SSNs, but still concerning.
INSIGHT

Messy Data, Real Risk

  • The breached data is messy, containing duplicate entries and fake social security numbers.
  • Despite this, it links names, addresses, and sometimes birth dates, posing a risk.
ADVICE

Protecting Your Identity

  • Individuals can protect themselves by freezing their credit and using two-factor authentication.
  • Regularly checking accounts and exercising caution with suspicious offers are also crucial.
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