Over the previous few months, we now have seen {that a} Data breach wave From healthcare giants to authorities contractors, affecting tens of millions of individuals. This newest incident is one other in a protracted line of alarming breaches. Now, insurance coverage administrative companies firm Landmark Admin has warned {that a} knowledge breach from a Might cyberattack has affected greater than 800,000 people.
Landmark Admin has partnered with a few of America’s largest insurance coverage carriers, together with American Monumental Life Insurance coverage Firm, Pellerin Life Insurance coverage Firm and American Profit Life Insurance coverage Firm.
Via these partnerships, tens of millions of policyholders and their Sensitive informationNames, social safety numbers, driver’s license numbers and passport numbers could also be prone to publicity, additional growing the potential influence of this breach.
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What it’s essential know
In a report back to Maine Attorney General’s OfficeLandmark disclosed that it seen uncommon exercise in its techniques on Might 13, 2024, prompting it to disconnect affected techniques and block distant entry to its community. Bleeping computer).
Landmark introduced in a specialised third-party cybersecurity crew to assist safe its techniques and carry out a radical investigation to know the extent of the breach. However whereas they have been investigating, the hackers managed to get again into Landmark’s system on June 17, 2024.
Investigations by the cyber safety crew confirmed that knowledge was encrypted and stolen from Landmark’s techniques. In accordance with the investigation, hackers might have gained unauthorized entry to non-public particulars of affected people, together with full identify, deal with, social safety quantity, tax ID, driver’s license or state-issued ID quantity, passport quantity, financial institution particulars, medical can embrace data, Health insurance Coverage quantity, date of start and particulars about life and annuity insurance policies.
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A massive data breach exposed the personal information of 3 million Americans to cybercriminals
What’s Landmark doing after the info breach?
Landmark is providing free identification theft safety companies for these affected Data breach. It is usually notifying anybody whose private data might have been in its techniques through the breach. Particular person notices shall be despatched by US first-class mail, going out in batches as they establish probably affected people. The primary wave of letters was despatched on October 23, 2024.
An instance of a hacker at work (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
The world’s largest stolen password database uploaded to the Criminal Forum
9 methods to guard your self from an information breach
1. Allow two-factor authentication: Activate Two-factor authentication (2FA) for an additional layer of safety on all of your necessary accounts, together with e-mail, banking and social media. Two-factor authentication requires you to supply one other piece of data along with your password whenever you log in, similar to a code despatched to your cellphone. This makes it considerably more durable for hackers to entry your accounts, even when they’ve your password. . Enabling 2FA can vastly scale back the chance of unauthorized entry and defend your delicate knowledge.
2. Monitor your accounts and transactions: You need to often test your on-line accounts and transactions for any suspicious or unauthorized exercise. Should you discover something uncommon, report it to the service supplier or the authorities instantly. You must also evaluation your credit score experiences and scores to see if there are any indicators of identification theft or fraud.
3. Contact your financial institution and bank card firms: Landmark hackers acquire your financial institution and bank card data, which they will use to make purchases or make withdrawals with out your consent. You need to notify your financial institution and bank card firms of the scenario. They might help you freeze or cancel your playing cards, dispute any fraudulent prices and get new playing cards issued for you.
You must also contact one of many three main credit score reporting companies (Equifax, Experian or TransUnion) and request {that a} fraud alert be positioned in your credit score file. This can make it tougher for identification thieves to open new accounts in your identify with out verification. You too can freeze your credit score if wanted.
4. Use private knowledge elimination companies: In mild of those ongoing knowledge breaches, defending private knowledge has grow to be crucial. A proactive step is to think about private knowledge elimination companies, which specialize within the ongoing monitoring and elimination of your data from numerous on-line databases and web sites. These companies use superior instruments and methods to establish and eradicate your knowledge from individuals search websites, knowledge brokers and different platforms the place your data could also be uncovered. Through the use of an information elimination service, you possibly can scale back the chance of identification theft and fraud, particularly after an information breach. Moreover, these companies present steady monitoring and alerts, notifying you of any new situations of your knowledge showing on-line and taking fast motion to take away it. Check out my top picks for data removal services here.
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5. Have robust antivirus software program: As cyber threats improve in frequency and class, robust antivirus software program can also be necessary to stop malware and phishing scams, each of which might expose your delicate data.
The easiest way to guard your self from malicious hyperlinks that set up malware, probably accessing your private data, is to put in antivirus software program on all of your gadgets. This safety may also provide you with a warning about phishing emails and ransomware scams, holding your private data and digital property protected. Get my picks for 2024’s best antivirus security winners for your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.
6. Use robust, distinctive passwords: Safe entry to your accounts is paramount. Utilizing robust, distinctive passwords for every account is an efficient barrier in opposition to unauthorized entry, particularly when an information breach places your data at excessive threat. Keep away from reusing passwords throughout a number of accounts. A powerful password normally comprises a mixture of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers and particular characters and is no less than 12 characters lengthy. Think about using a Password manager To assist create and retailer advanced passwords securely.
7. Hold your software program up to date: Older software program might have vulnerabilities that hackers exploit. Make sure that your working system, apps and browsers are Updated For the newest variations to shut any safety gaps.
8. Restrict Sharing of Private Info On-line: Watch out about sharing private data on social media or different platforms, as hackers can use this knowledge in phishing schemes. You’ll want to regulate Privacy settings So solely trusted associates can see your profile data in your social media accounts.
9. Keep away from public Wi-Fi for delicate transactions: Public Wi-Fi networks are sometimes much less safe and may be weak to hackers. When accessing delicate accounts, use a VPN or wait till you are on a trusted, safe community. For the best VPN software, check out my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices
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Kurt’s key takeaway
The Landmark knowledge breach is certainly one of a number of knowledge breaches I’ve lined this yr. Whereas it’s nonetheless unclear what sort of cyber assault hackers used to breach the insurance coverage firm’s system, one factor is definite – they accessed delicate knowledge. Much more worryingly, hackers received into Landmark’s techniques not as soon as however twice, pointing to some main cybersecurity gaps. Should you assume you could be affected, bear in mind and observe good cybersecurity practices.
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