What You Need to Know about the Data Breach MC2 Data

Founded in 2018, MC2 Data is based in Florida and specializes in background check services. MC2 aggregates data from several records to provide background check services to landlords, employers, and other organizations. The company is said to operate other services, including PeopleSearch USA, PrivateReports, PrivateRecords.net, PeopleSearcher, and ThePeopleSearchers. These services collate and review data from public data sources that include employment history, criminal records, contact information, and family data.

In August 2024, MC2 experienced a huge data breach. The incident came to light when a security team from Cybernews discovered an unsecured database with 2.2 terabytes of data without a password. Leaving the database without a password made over 106 million records with personal information of United States citizens and more than 2.3 million MC2 Data subscribers' information accessible to anyone online.

The data exposed in the breach included over 100 million people's names, IP addresses, phone numbers, employment histories, contact data, dates of birth, email addresses, partial payment information, encrypted passwords, and property records, which put them at risk of identity theft, among other perils.

Despite widespread reports about the data breach, MC2 neither fully acknowledged the scope of the leak nor clarified the period over which the 2.2TB database worth of data remained accessible online.

MC2 Data has not publicly disclosed the steps it took to mitigate the problem and enhance the security of the data it maintains.

When Was the MC2 Data Breach?

Although it remains unclear when the MC2 database was first exposed, researchers from Cybernews discovered the unsecured database containing 2.2TB of people's data on August 7th, 2024.

How to Check if Your Data Was Breached

There are no clear indications that MC2 Data has sent out notifications to people whose data was compromised in the breach. Therefore, you may keep an eye out for notifications to your email accounts for MC2 communications if you use any of their services. Also, you may use services like AmIBreached.com and HaveIBeenPwned.com to verify if your data was leaked in the MC2 Data and other online data breaches.

What to Do If Your Data Was Breached

MC2 Data communications about the data breach have been virtually non-existent since August. Hence, the company has not communicated specific steps that people who have had their data leaked may take to mitigate the issue. However, if you suspect that your data may have been leaked in the breach, you may take certain steps to protect yourself.

Firstly, you should consider changing your password for any website or service connected to MC2 Data operations that you may have signed up for. Also, consider signing up for fraud and credit alert monitoring services such as Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, as they may have data on whether a misuse of your personal information has occurred.

In addition, carefully review your bank and credit card statements, loan accounts, and other financial transactions for any unusual activity. If you suspect fraudulent transactions, you may contact your financial institution to dispute charges.

Are There Any Lawsuits Because of the Data Breach?

A few class-action lawsuits have been filed against MC2 Data in the wake of the August 2024 data leak. Cole & Van Note, a California-based data breach litigation law firm, filed a lawsuit against MC2 Data, alleging negligence in safeguarding personal information.

Also, ClassAction.org launched an investigation into the data breach and offered to represent affected persons in potential legal actions to obtain compensation for loss of privacy, out-of-pocket expenses, and other costs.

Other firms, such as Miller Law and Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith, are encouraging persons impacted by the data leak to come forward to join class-action investigations.

Can My MC2 Information Be Used for Identity Theft?

Due to some of the personally identifying and sensitive information leaked in the MC2 Data breach, your information may be used for identity theft. Typically, cybercriminals use sensitive personal data stolen from leaks such as the one in the MC2 Data compromise to commit fraud or identity theft. Such thefts may be used in tax fraud, medical identity theft, phishing attacks, and social engineering attacks.

What Can You Do to Protect Yourself Online?

In order to protect yourself from the consequences that may arise from the MC2 Data leak, you may take the following steps:

• Monitor Financial Accounts: Regularly check your bank and credit card statements for unauthorized transactions. If you notice suspicious activities, report them to your financial institutions
• Check Your Credit Report: You may obtain free credit reports to review your account for unfamiliar transactions
• Place a Fraud Alert or Credit Freeze on Your Account: By placing a fraud alert on your account, you warn creditors to take extra verification steps prior to extending credit. Also, a credit freeze prevents new accounts from being opened in your name without your explicit approval.
• Consider Identity Theft Protection Services: These services help monitor your information and alert you to potential misuse.
• Enable 2FA or Multi-Factor Authentication: To reduce the risk of unauthorized access to your accounts, consider activating two- or multi-factor authentication where possible.
• Regularly Update Your Software: Keep your devices and applications up-to-date to protect them against vulnerabilities.
• Be Selective When Sharing Personal Information: Carefully choose whom you share your personal details with online in order to minimize exposure of sensitive data.

Use Strong, Unique Passwords and Change Passwords Regularly: Create different, complex passwords for your accounts and change them regularly, typically every six months.