Equifax admits additional 2.4 million Americans affected by 2017 hack

Equifax somehow still manages to surprise us.

The credit-reporting agency whose allegedly shoddy security practices allowed hackers to steal the personal information of potentially 143 million Americans is back in the news, and it's not for anything good. In fact, it's bad — like an additional 2.4 million Americans bad.

On the off chance that you had somehow managed to put the company's mid-2017 case of likely catastrophic negligence behind you, the get-rich-or-fuck-you-over-trying folks are back to remind everyone just how much we hate them with the bombshell that even morepeople were hit by hack than originally reported.

SEE ALSO: Equifax is making an app, because apparently screwing 143 million people wasn’t enough

That's according to Equifax's own website, which today dropped the little banger on us that 2.4 million more Americans than initially reported had some personal information boosted by the hackers. Specifically, those newly minted victims had their "partial driver’s license information" stolen.

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

Where the magic happens. Credit: RHONA WISE/EPA-EFE/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK

"We were able to identify these consumers by referencing other information in proprietary company records that the attackers did not steal, and by engaging the resources of an external data provider," the company explained in the press release.

And just in case it wasn't crystal clear, the company says these latest victims "were not in the previously identified affected population."

So, are you one of the additional people whose data Equifax lost control of? According to the company, there's one way to find out: check your mailbox. No, not your inbox — your mailbox.

"Equifax will notify these consumers by U.S. Postal mail, and will offer identity theft protection and credit file monitoring services at no cost to them," noted the same press release.

So, yeah. Cross your fingers and keep an eye out for your mail carrier. You and 2.4 million other Americans might just be getting a little surprise in the post. Equifax says you're welcome.

---

Featured Video For You

---

3 security issues facing self-driving cars

---