You never know when your data can be stolen by hackers and what they can do with it, which is why you have to be careful who you trust them with. Unfortunately, these things can happen even if you provide them to firms with strong security.
Greylock McKinnon Associates Data Breach
The US consulting firm suffered a data breach that led to the theft of 341,650 Social Security numbers. The incident has already been disclosed by the government of Maine, and victims have already been notified through mail.
According to Greylock McKinnon Associates (GMA), the cyberattack took place back in May 2023, and as soon as the suspicious activity was detected, the company "promptly took steps to mitigate the incident," as mentioned in Tech Crunch.
The notice stated that the personal information of the affected clients had been given to the Department of Justice "as part of a civil litigation matter," although the Department did not specify what the reasons and the targets of the litigation were.
GMA assured the victims of the attack that they were not the subject of the investigation or the associated litigation matters. Furthermore, the cyberattack does not affect the clients; current Medicare benefits or coverage.
Unfortunately, Social Security numbers were not the only information that was stolen during the attack. According to GMA, personal data like names, dates of birth, home addresses, health insurance information, and medical information may have been stolen as well.
It does strike as unusual why the firm only revealed the incident months after it happened, although GMA assured clients that they had already consulted with a third-party cybersecurity specialist to assist with matters, as well as notify the appropriate authorities.
What Can You Do?
On the side of apprehending the hacker, there's not much you can do. But, you can look out for signs if the attacker is targeting you by using your private data. Social Security numbers alone can be used for all sorts of fraudulent activity.
The bad actor will be able to get a credit card or loan in your name. They can also open various accounts like banks and phones. With your Social Security number, it would be possible for them to get a fraudulent driver's license, along with the ability to drain your bank account.
Other scenarios could be unlikely, such as the hackers using your name to commit crimes, which will reflect on your record. They could even receive medical care with your benefits or set up utilities using your SSN, as per Aura.
Although this already happened months ago, it's still best to watch out for suspicious activities in your accounts. Check with the bank if there are accounts made in your name, and monitor your existing bank accounts for unauthorized charges.
If you do find fraudulent activities, immediately contact the companies where your Social Security number was used and notify them of the theft. Place a fraud alert for your credit report and file an official identity theft report to the proper authorities.
