Santa Clara, CA asked in Identity Theft and Securities Law for California

Q: is it legal to download the NPA data leak to see if I am on it? I would not distribute it or use it in any other way.

1 Lawyer Answer
James L. Arrasmith
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Answered

A: It's understandable to be concerned about your information after a data leak. However, downloading data from a leak, even if your intentions are just to check if you're affected, can have legal consequences. Accessing such data without proper authorization is generally illegal, and you could be held liable for merely possessing it.

If you're worried about your personal information being compromised, there are safer and legal ways to verify this. You could contact the organization involved or use legitimate services that notify individuals if their information has been part of a breach.

It's best to avoid any actions that could put you at risk legally and instead focus on protecting your identity and data through lawful means.

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