Suffolk cyber hackers accessed ‘personal information,’ county says
Suffolk County officials have acknowledged for the first time that hackers who breached county computer systems had accessed “personal information,” and urged residents to monitor their accounts and credit reports closely.
In a notice posted on its temporary webpage on Wednesday, the county said, “we believe that the threat actors accessed and/or acquired certain personal information from one or more County agency servers.”
The notice said Suffolk had “promptly hired multiple cybersecurity firms to conduct an examination to protect employees and residents as well as restore online services.”
While the county disclosed no details about the personal information accessed by hackers, the notice contained the first confirmation since the “cyber intrusion” was disclosed that hackers had obtained personal information.
PROTECTING YOURSELF
Suffolk County recommends residents take the following steps to detect suspicious activity involving their accounts and credit reports:
- Review accounts and credit reports. Search for things such as an incorrect Social Security number, accounts you did not open or charges you did not make. If you see suspicious activity, report it to law enforcement.
- Place a fraud alert on your credit. If you suspect fraud, contact call one of the three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian or TransUnion. A fraud alert conveys to anyone requesting your credit report that you suspect you may be a fraud victim. A fraud alert should not stop you from using existing credit cards or other accounts, but may slow your ability to get new credit.
- Place a security freeze on your credit reports. Visit the New York Department of State Division of Consumer Protection website dos.nysits.acsitefactory.com/consumer-protection to place a security freeze on credit reports. A security freeze prevents most potential creditors from viewing your credit reports and therefore further restricts the opening of unauthorized accounts.
Source: suffolkcountyny.gov
“The protection of personal information is a top priority of the county and we will notify directly any individual whose data may have been exposed and offer free identity theft protection services.” Suffolk…
