Over the past few months, we have seen the following situations: A wave of data breaches From healthcare giants to government contractors and more, it affects millions of people. This latest incident is the latest in a series of alarming breaches. Now, insurance management services company Landmark Admin has warned that a data breach caused by a cyberattack in May affected more than 800,000 individuals.
Landmark Admin works with some of America's largest insurance companies, including American Monumental Life Insurance Company, Pellerin Life Insurance Company, and American Benefit Life Insurance Company.
Through these partnerships, millions of policyholders and their sensitive information (names, social security numbers, driver's license numbers, passport numbers, etc.) may be at risk of exposure, making this potential breach impact will be further amplified.
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What you need to know
In the report to Maine Attorney General's OfficeLandmark disclosed that it discovered unusual activity within its systems on May 13, 2024, prompting it to disconnect affected systems and block remote access to its network. peepee computer).
Landmark brought in a specialized third-party cybersecurity team to ensure the security of its systems and perform a thorough investigation to understand the scope of the breach. However, during the investigation, hackers successfully infiltrated Landmark's systems on June 17, 2024.
The cybersecurity team's findings revealed that data had been encrypted and stolen from Landmark's systems. According to the investigation, hackers may have gained unauthorized access to personal information of affected individuals, including names, addresses, social security numbers, tax ID numbers, driver's license or state-issued ID numbers, and passports. This may include numbers, bank account information, medical information, etc. Information, health insurance policy number, date of birth, details about life insurance and pension insurance.
Illustration of a hacker at work (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutson)
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What is Landmark doing after the data breach?
Landmark offers free identity theft protection services to those affected by data breaches. We are also notifying anyone who may have had personal information on our systems at the time of the breach. Individual notifications will be sent via first-class U.S. mail and will be grouped together once potentially affected individuals are identified. The first wave of letters was sent on October 23, 2024.
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Illustration of a hacker at work (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutson)
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9 ways to protect yourself from data breaches
1. Enable two-factor authentication. activation two-factor authentication (2FA) provides an extra layer of security for all your important accounts, including email, banking, and social media. Two-factor authentication requires you to enter a second piece of information, such as a code sent to your mobile phone, in addition to your password when you log in. This makes it much harder for hackers to access your account, even if they know your password. . Enabling 2FA greatly reduces the risk of unauthorized access and protects sensitive data.
2. Monitor your accounts and transactions. You should regularly check your online accounts and transactions for suspicious or fraudulent activity. If you notice anything unusual, report it to your service provider or authorities immediately. You should also check your credit report and score for signs of identity theft or fraud.
3. Contact your bank and credit card company. Landmark Hackers can obtain your banking and credit card information and use it to make purchases and withdrawals without your consent. You must notify your bank or credit card company of the situation. We can help you freeze or cancel your card, dispute fraudulent charges, and issue a new card.
You should also contact one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) and request that a fraud alert be placed on your credit file. This makes it more difficult for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name without authentication. You can also freeze your credit if you wish.
4. Use personal data deletion service: In light of these ongoing data breaches, protecting personal data has become essential. One proactive step is to consider a personal data deletion service that specializes in the ongoing monitoring and deletion of information from various online databases and websites. These services employ sophisticated tools and techniques to identify and remove your data from people search sites, data brokers, and other platforms where your information may be exposed. Using a data deletion service can help minimize the risk of identity theft and fraud, especially after a data breach. Additionally, these services often provide continuous monitoring and alerts, notifying you whenever new data appears online and taking immediate steps to remove it. Check out the data deletion services I recommend here.
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5. Use strong antivirus software: As cyber threats increase in frequency and sophistication, strong antivirus software is also important to protect against malware and phishing scams. Both can lead to sensitive information being leaked if left unprotected.
The best way to protect yourself from malicious links that can install malware and access your personal information is to install antivirus software on all your devices. This protection also warns you about phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best antivirus protection products of 2024 for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.
6. Use strong and unique passwords. Secure access to your account is paramount. Using strong, unique passwords for each account is an effective barrier to unauthorized access, especially when a data breach puts your information at high risk. Don't reuse passwords across multiple accounts. Strong passwords typically include a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters, and are at least 12 characters long. Please consider using . password manager Helps you generate and store complex passwords securely.
7. Keep your software up to date. Old software has vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. Make sure you have the correct operating system, apps, and browser. updated Update to the latest version to close security gaps.
8. Limit the sharing of your personal information online. Be careful when sharing personal information on social media and other platforms, as hackers can use this data for phishing scams. Please be sure to adjust Privacy settings Access your social media accounts and ensure that only trusted friends can see your profile information.
9. Avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions. Public Wi-Fi networks are often insecure and can be vulnerable to hackers. If you want to access sensitive accounts, use a VPN or wait until you're connected to a trusted, secure network. For the best VPN software, read my expert review of the best VPNs to browse the web privately. Windows, Mac, Android, iOS devices
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Cart important points
The Landmark data breach is just one of several data breaches I covered this year. It is still unclear what type of cyber attack the hackers used to break into the insurance company's systems, but one thing is certain: they accessed sensitive data. Even more concerning, hackers broke into Landmark's systems not once, but twice, suggesting major cybersecurity flaws. If you believe you may have been affected, please remain vigilant and follow good cybersecurity practices.
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