Is your personal data safe? LexisNexis breach exposes sensitive info of over 364,000 Americans
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We trust companies to keep our information secure—but what happens when even the biggest data brokers, the ones who handle our most sensitive details, fall short?
That unsettling question is now top of mind for more than 364,000 people across the US after LexisNexis Risk Solutions—a data giant used by insurers, lenders, and employers—confirmed a cybersecurity breach.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about how much personal data is being collected, who has access to it, and what happens when that information slips into the wrong hands.
The breach happened months ago—on December 25, 2024—but it wasn’t discovered until April 1, 2025.
Affected individuals are only now starting to receive notifications.
What happened—and how serious is this?
According to a notice filed with the state of Maine, an “unauthorized third party” accessed LexisNexis data through a software development platform—specifically, the company’s GitHub account.
A spokesperson for LexisNexis confirmed the entry point and added that once the breach was discovered, the company "promptly launched an investigation" and notified law enforcement.
The data exposed varied depending on the individual but could include full names, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and other personally identifying details.
These are exactly the types of data criminals use to open credit cards, take out loans, or commit tax fraud.
Caroline Kraczon, a law fellow at the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), didn’t mince words: “Thanks to LexisNexis, hundreds of thousands of individuals’ personal data is now up for grabs by bad actors… by foreign adversaries, fraudsters, or abusers.”
Also read: Were you affected by this data breach? You could claim up to $53,000
Why LexisNexis matters—and why this breach is alarming
LexisNexis is one of the largest data brokers in the US, collecting and selling personal information for fraud detection, insurance risk assessment, employment screenings, and more.
If you’ve applied for a job, loan, or insurance in recent years, there’s a good chance LexisNexis has a file on you.
The company was previously criticized after a New York Times report revealed that automakers had shared driver data with LexisNexis, which the company then sold to insurance companies—sometimes resulting in higher premiums for unsuspecting drivers.
Now, the same company has suffered a breach that puts deeply sensitive data into the hands of unknown actors.
Also read: Heads up! This retail giant is sending out checks after major breach
What can you do to protect yourself?
If you think you may be affected—or simply want to stay one step ahead—consider these steps:
Also read: Shoppers could be eligible for up to $5,500 after data breach—here’s how to file a claim
A broken system—and stalled protections
The breach highlights a growing frustration among consumer privacy advocates: our personal data is often collected, shared, and sold—without our active consent.
And while federal agencies had started working to rein in these practices, momentum has stalled.
Under the Biden administration, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed a rule to ban the sale of Social Security numbers and other sensitive data.
But in February 2025, Trump-appointed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent ordered the CFPB to halt all rulemaking.
The rule was formally withdrawn this May.
Additionally, the House passed a bill last year to block the sale of Americans’ personal data to foreign adversaries, but progress has since stalled.
Caroline Kraczon added, “The LexisNexis breach is yet another example of why we need to rein in the reckless business model of data brokers that traffic in our most sensitive information for profit.”
Read next: Is your health harmed? Find out if you’re one of the million affected by the latest massive data breach!
Do you think firms like LexisNexis should be allowed to store and sell your data? Have you been affected by a data breach before? What steps do you take to stay safe online? Share your experiences, insights, and advice in the comments below—because at The GrayVine, protecting our community starts with staying informed!
That unsettling question is now top of mind for more than 364,000 people across the US after LexisNexis Risk Solutions—a data giant used by insurers, lenders, and employers—confirmed a cybersecurity breach.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about how much personal data is being collected, who has access to it, and what happens when that information slips into the wrong hands.
The breach happened months ago—on December 25, 2024—but it wasn’t discovered until April 1, 2025.
Affected individuals are only now starting to receive notifications.
LexisNexis Risk Solutions, one of the largest data brokers in the US, is under scrutiny after a breach exposed the personal information of over 364,000 individuals. Image Source: Pexels / Mikhail Nilov.
What happened—and how serious is this?
According to a notice filed with the state of Maine, an “unauthorized third party” accessed LexisNexis data through a software development platform—specifically, the company’s GitHub account.
A spokesperson for LexisNexis confirmed the entry point and added that once the breach was discovered, the company "promptly launched an investigation" and notified law enforcement.
The data exposed varied depending on the individual but could include full names, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and other personally identifying details.
These are exactly the types of data criminals use to open credit cards, take out loans, or commit tax fraud.
Caroline Kraczon, a law fellow at the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), didn’t mince words: “Thanks to LexisNexis, hundreds of thousands of individuals’ personal data is now up for grabs by bad actors… by foreign adversaries, fraudsters, or abusers.”
Also read: Were you affected by this data breach? You could claim up to $53,000
Why LexisNexis matters—and why this breach is alarming
LexisNexis is one of the largest data brokers in the US, collecting and selling personal information for fraud detection, insurance risk assessment, employment screenings, and more.
If you’ve applied for a job, loan, or insurance in recent years, there’s a good chance LexisNexis has a file on you.
The company was previously criticized after a New York Times report revealed that automakers had shared driver data with LexisNexis, which the company then sold to insurance companies—sometimes resulting in higher premiums for unsuspecting drivers.
Now, the same company has suffered a breach that puts deeply sensitive data into the hands of unknown actors.
Also read: Heads up! This retail giant is sending out checks after major breach
What can you do to protect yourself?
If you think you may be affected—or simply want to stay one step ahead—consider these steps:
- Don’t ignore mail from LexisNexis. The company is notifying affected individuals, so check your mail and email carefully.
- Check your credit reports. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com to review your reports for free.
- Freeze your credit. This prevents anyone from opening new credit lines in your name.
- Set up a fraud alert. This warns creditors to take extra precautions before approving credit requests.
- Change your passwords. Especially if you use the same one across multiple platforms.
- Be on the lookout for scams. Phishing calls and emails often spike after major data breaches.
- Consider signing up for credit monitoring. LexisNexis may offer this service to those impacted.
Also read: Shoppers could be eligible for up to $5,500 after data breach—here’s how to file a claim
A broken system—and stalled protections
The breach highlights a growing frustration among consumer privacy advocates: our personal data is often collected, shared, and sold—without our active consent.
And while federal agencies had started working to rein in these practices, momentum has stalled.
Under the Biden administration, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed a rule to ban the sale of Social Security numbers and other sensitive data.
But in February 2025, Trump-appointed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent ordered the CFPB to halt all rulemaking.
The rule was formally withdrawn this May.
Additionally, the House passed a bill last year to block the sale of Americans’ personal data to foreign adversaries, but progress has since stalled.
Caroline Kraczon added, “The LexisNexis breach is yet another example of why we need to rein in the reckless business model of data brokers that traffic in our most sensitive information for profit.”
Read next: Is your health harmed? Find out if you’re one of the million affected by the latest massive data breach!
Do you think firms like LexisNexis should be allowed to store and sell your data? Have you been affected by a data breach before? What steps do you take to stay safe online? Share your experiences, insights, and advice in the comments below—because at The GrayVine, protecting our community starts with staying informed!
