Data Security Breach Reports from the Texas Attorney General’s office shows that Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) recently learned that an employee’s email account had been breached. The email account contained attachments with the personal information of more than three million people.
TDI announced that the department had become aware on January 4 of a security issue with a TDI web service application. The application had been configured to allow access to an unsecured server that stored information submitted through the website. A hacker was able to gain access to this server and copy some of the data it contained.
TDI said that the problem had been addressed and that an investigation was underway to determine how many people may have been impacted.
For those that have been impacted by the breach, TDI is offering two years of complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft protection services. These services include fraud consultation and identity theft restoration.
This is just one of two major cyber breaches to recently hit the state of Texas. The other one occurred at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA).
On January 27, UTSA announced that it had been the victim of a cyber attack. The attack occurred on December 28 and resulted in the exposure of personal information belonging to approximately 19,000 current and former students, faculty, and staff.
The exposed information included names, birthdates, Social Security numbers, and driver’s license numbers. UTSA is currently working with law enforcement and an outside cybersecurity firm to investigate the incident.
These two cyber breaches illustrate the importance of data security. Texas is just one of many states that have recently been hit by cyber attacks. In light of these attacks, it’s important for individuals and organizations to take steps to protect their data.
Some basic steps that can be taken to protect your data include:
- Encrypting sensitive information: This can help to ensure that even if data is stolen, it will be difficult for hackers to access and use it.
- Using strong passwords: Strong passwords can help to keep your data safe by making it more difficult for hackers to guess them.
- Keeping your software up to date: Software updates often include security patches that can help to protect your data from being compromised.
- Backing up your data: This can help to ensure that you have a copy of your data in case it is lost or stolen.
- Keep an eye on your credit report: Checking your credit report regularly can help you to spot any suspicious activity that may be the result of identity theft.
Managed IT support services can also help to prevent data breaches. These services can provide your organization with the expert guidance and support needed to implement strong security measures and stay up-to-date on the latest threats.
If you are a business owner, it is important to be aware of the potential threats posed by cyber attacks. These attacks can result in the exposure of sensitive information and cause significant damage to your reputation. By taking steps to improve your security posture and educate your employees, with the help of a managed IT support provider, you can help to protect your business from these threats.