What To Know About Mass Social Security Number Breach

Written By Guest User

Plus, the devastating new details investigators revealed about actor Matthew Perry's death

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📌 HACKERS MAY HAVE STOLEN EVERY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER IN HISTORIC BREACH

An enormous amount of sensitive data belonging to millions of Americans — including your social security number, current and past addresses, date of birth, phone numbers, an even the names of your relatives — may be in the hands of online hackers after a massive data breach.

EVERYONE’S FIRST QUESTION: AM I AFFECTED?
It’s likely. The hackers claim to have breached a massive database that held more than 2.7 billion sensitive records across the U.S., UK, and Canada. The number of personal records hacked doesn’t necessarily equate to that exact number of people, but the U.S. population stands at about 330 million… so its reach is significant. It’s probable that every single American may have had some of their data compromised.

THE SCOPE
Information about the hack comes from a class-action lawsuit filed earlier this year. The breach is believed to have happened in April. The lawsuit says the stolen personal information dates back to the 1990s. Experts believe the hackers are trying to sell the data on the dark web for $3.5 million.

  • What they can do with your data: The stolen data could allow the cybercriminals to gain access to your financial accounts, or take out loans in your name.

  • Reality Check: At the same time, a preliminary expert analysis of the leak suggests it may include partial and incorrect data, alongside some legitimate information. Security analysts said the leak of Social Security numbers isn’t a reason for panic — many people’s numbers have already been leaked in previous hacks.

PROTECTING YOUR INFORMATION
If you think your information has been stolen, here are some things you can do to prevent identity theft:

  • Freeze your credit at all three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, AND TransUnion. 

  • Perform security scans on all of your devices

  • Update your passwords

  • Use multi-factor authentication

  • Check for suspicious activity or unauthorized use of your credit cards

  • Beware of phishing, an email scam to get your personal information by a fake sender. AKA Don’t click on questionable links that ask for financial or personal info.

📌 DOCTORS, PERSONAL ASSISTANT CHARGED IN MATTHEW PERRY’S OVERDOSE DEATH

Multiple people have been charged in connection with actor Matthew Perry’s death. Prosecutors on Thursday laid out what they said was a “broad underground criminal network” dedicated to getting Perry the powerful anesthetic ketamine.

ARRESTS
Two doctors, a drug dealer known as the “ketamine queen,” and Matthew Perry’s live-in personal assistant, are among those who have been charged in the actor’s accidental overdose death. Three have already pleaded guilty.

  • Defendant 1: Jasveen Sangha, a drug trafficker in North Hollywood, who provided Perry’s assistant with the ketamine that ultimately led to his death.

  • Defendant 2: Perry’s assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who injected Perry with the drug on the day he died. He admitted to repeatedly injecting Perry with ketamine, even without medical training. [Plead Guilty]

  • Defendant 3: Dr. Salvador Plasencia provided the syringe. He had also provided Perry and his assistant with ketamine in the past, despite knowing he had a history with drug abuse.

  • Defendant 4: Dr. Mark Chavez, a San Diego physician, who admitted to selling ketamine to Plasencia. [Plead Guilty]

  • Defendant 5: Erik Fleming was described as Matthew Perry’s “broker” who helped him obtain ketamine. He admitted to distributing the ketamine that killed Perry. [Plead Guilty]

DISTURBING DETAILS
Court documents say Perry’s assistant injected him with at least 27 shots of ketamine in the five days leading up to his death, including at least three on the day he died. The defendants allegedly spoke in code to discuss the drug deals, referring to ketamine as “Dr. Pepper,” “cans,” or “bots.” An indictment also described a conversation between Dr. Plasencia and another doctor over how much to charge Matthew Perry for ketamine. He wrote, “I wonder how much this moron will pay” and, “Lets find out.”

  • The DEA says the doctors charged Perry $2,000 for a vial that cost approximately $12. As Perry’s addiction worsened, he would buy the drug from street dealers, which is where he got the ketamine that killed him.

  • Plasencia told another patient in October of 2023, the month Perry died, that the actor was “spiraling out of control with his addiction,” according to lawyers, but continued to supply Perry with the drug anyway. He faces a maximum sentence of 120 years in federal prison.

❝

They knew what they were doing was risking great danger to Mr. Perry, but they did it anyways. In the end, these defendants were more interested in profiting off Mr. Perry than caring for his well being.

U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada

AFFECTS OF KETAMINE
Ketamine has been increasingly used in recent years as a treatment for depression, anxiety and pain. Ketamine is also a longtime party drug but has been growing in popularity for alternative treatments. Matthew Perry used it for depression and anxiety.

He was open about his opioid and alcohol addictions (he spoke about it at length in his memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing) and had been 19 months sober up until the night he died at his California home on October 28, 2023. The levels of ketamine detected in his blood were so high they were equivalent to the amount used for general anesthesia during surgery, according to his autopsy. It was listed as the primary factor in his death, which was ruled accident.

⏳ SPEED READ

🚨NATION

📌 Harris campaign agrees to two presidential debates, one VP debate (THE HILL)

📌 U.S. mortgage rates tick higher but are predicted to ‘trend down’ this fall (REALTOR)

📌 Donald Trump asks judge to delay sentencing in hush money case until after November election (AP)

📌 Trump says he is entitled to personal attacks on Harris as he hammers her on inflation (AP)

📌 Scott Peterson denies killing his pregnant wife nearly two decades ago in new documentary (CNN)

🌎 AROUND THE WORLD

📌 Hostage talks still ongoing, Qatar says, as source says progress made today (TIMES OF ISRAEL)

📌 First case of mpox outside of Africa has been confirmed (NBC)

📌 Russia sentences dual U.S.-Russian citizen from LA to 12 years for Ukraine donation (WSJ)

📌 Australian Olympic Breakdancer ‘Raygun’ says criticism has been ‘devastating’ (VARIETY)

📌 Mexico’s president spars with reporters over safety and drug cartels (CBS)

📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH

📌 Wave of whooping cough accelerating nationwide (CBS)

📌 NASA still figuring out how to get astronauts stuck in space home (FOX NEWS)

📌 Amazon to test Prime Air drone delivery service in the UK (CNBC)

📌 Silicon Valley’s return-to-office battle is still a hot mess (BUSINESS INSIDER)

🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

📌 A major security operation is underway ahead of Taylor Swift’s five night London run (WSJ)

📌 Yankees’ Aaron Judge makes history with 300th home run, says White Sox “made him mad” before getting up to bat (SPORTS ILLUSTRATED)

📌 “It ruined me” Rust director speaks out for first time about fatal on set shooting (THE GUARDIAN)

📌 Harvard study: Celebrities have “incredibly powerful” ability to influence the election (YAHOO!)

🎉 CHEERS TO THE FREAKIN WEEKEND

Guest User
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