Maine’s official state government website recently suffered a data breach, affecting 1.3 million residents. The breach was the result of a ransomware attack that exploited a vulnerability in the third-party file transfer tool known as MOVEit. This attack is the latest in a series of data breaches that have been occurring around the world in the last six months.

Background

On May 31, 2023, the state of Maine government became aware of a software vulnerability in MOVEit. This tool, owned by Progress Software and used by thousands of companies and organizations worldwide to send and receive data, was exploited by a group of cybercriminals. Between May 28 and May 29, 2023, the hackers gained access and downloaded files belonging to various agencies in the State of Maine.

What Data Was Stolen?

The compromised data varies per individual and their association with the state. However, the stolen data may include:

1. Names
2. Social Security numbers (SSN)
3. Dates of birth
4. Driver’s license/state identification numbers
5. Taxpayer identification numbers

In some instances, certain types of medical information and health insurance information may also have been compromised.

How Did the Maine Government Respond?

Upon discovering the breach incident, the state of Maine promptly took steps to secure its information, which included blocking internet access to and from the MOVEit server and applying recommended security measures to patch the vulnerability. They also sought external legal and cybersecurity expertise to investigate the incident.

The state is also offering two years of complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft protection services to residents whose SSNs and taxpayer numbers were compromised.

How to Find Out if Your Info Was Compromised?

The state of Maine encourages individuals to reach out to its dedicated call center to verify if they were affected and, if so, to identify what specific data of theirs was involved.

• Maine’s Call Center: Residents can contact this phone number (877) 618-3659, available from Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 9 PM ET, to verify if they were involved in the breach and to ask questions regarding their data.
• Credit Monitoring Services: Individuals who receive a code for credit monitoring can enroll in the service by calling (866) 622-9303, which is available from Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 11 PM ET, and on Saturday from 9 AM to 6 PM ET.

For more information, visit Maine’s official government website for the support contact hotlines.

How Can You Protect Your Data?

Despite cybercriminals’ assertions that any data obtained from governments has been erased, the government is urging individuals to take steps to protect their personal information. Here are some ways to protect your data from a breach:

1. Monitor Your Accounts: Regularly check your financial and online accounts and file a report immediately if there’s any suspicious activity.
2. Use Strong Passwords: Create unique passwords for each of your accounts.
3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Enable two-factor authentication on your accounts for an additional layer of security.
4. Be Wary of Phishing Attempts: Be cautious of unsolicited communications asking for your personal information or directing you to a website where you’re asked to input your data.
5. Keep Your Software Updated: Regularly update your devices and applications to ensure you have the latest security patches.
6. Use Secure Networks: Avoid using public Wi-Fi for transactions or accessing accounts that require a password.
7. Report Identity Theft Incidents: You can contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at their website, www.identitytheft.gov and www.ftc.gov/idtheft, to report incidents of identity theft or to learn about protective measures against identity theft.

In conclusion, this incident serves as a reminder of the importance of cybersecurity and the need for constant vigilance in the face of ever-evolving threats.

Protecting Your Identity and Personal Info  

Compromised personal data can have serious consequences, including identity theft, financial fraud, and job losses. The best thing you can do is a) have reliable cybersecurity protection, and b) ensure you will find out ASAP in the event of being affected. We would encourage readers to head over to our new ID Protection platform, which has been designed to meet these challenges.   

With ID Protection, which has been desig, you can:  

1. Check to see if your data (email, number, password, credit card) has been exposed in a leak, or is up for grabs on the dark web;  
2. Secure your social media accounts with our Social Media Account Monitoring tool, with which you’ll receive a personalized report;  
3. Receive the strongest tough-to-hack password suggestions from our advanced AI (they’ll be safely stored in your Vault);  
4. Enjoy a safer browsing experience, as Trend Micro checks websites and prevents trackers.  

Why not give it a go today? As always, we hope this article has been an interesting and/or useful read. If so, please do SHARE it with family and friends to help keep the online community secure and informed — and consider leaving a like or comment below.