The Great Data Heist: 3 Billion Lives Up for Sale on the Dark Web

The Dark Web Auction of 3 Billion Personal Records—Is Your Identity on the Block?"

I usually dive into the political and religious battles that define our times, but today I need to put all that aside.

This is about something far more urgent—something that every American, without exception, must be aware of. Consider this your Public Service Announcement.

But unlike most PSAs, this isn’t some boring, run-of-the-mill message you’ll forget by the time you’ve finished reading. No, this is a warning about something that could affect your financial security, your identity, your future—something that’s downright terrifying.

It’s been in the news this past week, but if you blinked, you probably missed it.

Imagine waking up tomorrow to find that every shred of your personal information—your Social Security number, your home address, your phone number, your date of birth—is out there for the world to see. Not just out there, but actively being sold to the highest bidder on the dark web.

That’s not the plot of a dystopian novel. It’s reality, and it’s happening right now.

A cybercriminal gang known as USDoD has pulled off what can only be described as the heist of the century, managing to steal the personal data of nearly 3 billion people. Yes—3 billion people.

That’s nearly half the world’s population. And they’ve done it by cracking open the vault of National Public Data, a company that’s supposed to keep your information safe. Instead, they’ve made it a prime target for hackers who want to sell your life to the highest bidder.

Now, I know what you’re thinking—this sounds too big, too crazy to be true. But let me tell you, this is as real as it gets.

According to cybersecurity experts who’ve analyzed the data, this breach includes Social Security numbers, addresses, phone numbers, and more. It’s the whole kit and caboodle.

And while some experts are saying that the number of people actually affected might be smaller, the fact remains that this is a five-alarm fire if ever there was one.

Teresa Murray, a cybersecurity expert, called this breach a “five-alarm wake-up call” for anyone who hasn’t been paying attention. And if this doesn’t wake you up, I don’t know what will.

With this information, criminals can do just about anything. They can hijack your bank account, steal your identity, and even file fraudulent tax returns in your name.

So, what can you do?

First things first, you need to find out if you’re one of the 3 billion unlucky souls whose data has been stolen. There’s a free website you can check. Try it. I did and I was shocked to find my name listed multiple times.

But let’s be real—if you’re counting on a website to tell you if your Social Security number is floating around the dark web, you’re already in trouble.

The best thing you can do is to act now to protect yourself. Freeze your credit files at the three major credit bureaus—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.

This will make it much harder for anyone to open a new account in your name. Don’t wait. The criminals sure aren’t.

You should also notify your bank and any other financial institutions you deal with to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity.

This is not the time to be complacent. Change all your passwords, and I mean all of them. And for heaven’s sake, don’t use the same password for multiple accounts. That’s just asking for trouble.

And while you’re at it, think about getting a PIN number from the IRS for filing your taxes. The last thing you want is to find out that someone has already filed a fraudulent tax return in your name.

Look, I know this is scary. It’s terrifying. But it’s also reality.

This is the world we live in now, where your entire life can be stolen and sold to the highest bidder by some faceless hacker on the dark web. But you don’t have to be a victim. You can take steps to protect yourself and your family.

And you should—because if you don’t, no one else will.

Martin Mawyer is president of the Christian Action Network, which he founded in 1990. Located in Lynchburg, VA, CAN was formed as a non-profit educational organization to protect America’s religious and moral heritage. He is the author of several books, including You Are Chosen: Prepare to Triumph in a Fallen World.