Major data breach at credit giant exposes 4.4 million Americans' data
Share this @internewscast.com

Consumer credit reporting company TransUnion has experienced a significant data breach, leading to the exposure of personal details for more than 4.4 million individuals in the United States.

TransUnion is one of the three major credit reporting agencies in the country, along with Equifax and Experian.

The breach to took place on July 28 and was discovered two days later, according to documents filed with Maine’s attorney general.

TransUnion clarified that while no credit information was compromised, the attackers did manage to obtain Social Security numbers from Americans nationwide.

BleepingComputer reports that this breach was part of a larger cyberattack targeting a Google database handled via Salesforce’s cloud services.

This cyberattack, attributed to a group called ShinyHunters, involved the theft of numerous business files, including company names and customer contacts. Google stated that no passwords were acquired in the breach.

The cybersecurity news outlet noted that the Salesforce attacks have also affected major organizations like Farmers Insurance, Allianz Life, Workday, Pandora, Cisco, Chanel, and Qantas.

Past incidents have led cybersecurity experts to advise affected individuals to update their passwords, implement credit freezes, and enable fraud alerts on their banking accounts.

Over 4.4 million Americans had their personal data stolen in a breach targeting credit reporting company TransUnion

Over 4.4 million Americans had their personal data stolen in a breach targeting credit reporting company TransUnion

TransUnion is one of the three major credit reporting agencies in the US, along with Equifax and Experian, and they also operate in 30 other countries

TransUnion is one of the three major credit reporting agencies in the US, along with Equifax and Experian, and they also operate in 30 other countries

TransUnion did not go into details about what limited information was exposed but noted that no ‘core credit information’ was stolen in the hack.

‘We recently experienced a cyber incident involving a third-party application serving our U.S. consumer support operations. The unauthorized access includes some limited personal information belonging to you,’ TransUnion wrote in a letter to its customers.

The credit bureau has collected and maintains up-to-date records on more than 200 million people in the US.

TransUnion’s credit information is used to assess a person’s creditworthiness, helping lenders, employers, and others make informed decisions about loans, employment, or other financial transactions.

The Daily Mail has reached out to TransUnion for a comment on the situation and is awaiting their response. 

TransUnion has offered those impacted 24 months of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services.

According to the filing with the Attorney General’s office in Maine, 4,461,511 people were affected by the data breach.

However, only 16,828 were from the state of Maine, meaning that millions of Americans throughout the country may have had their Social Security numbers stolen.

Cybersecurity researchers revealed that a hacking group known as ShinyHunters has been responsible for a wave of attacks targeting Salesforce databases

Cybersecurity researchers revealed that a hacking group known as ShinyHunters has been responsible for a wave of attacks targeting Salesforce databases

Along with filing for identity theft protection, freezing your credit allows consumers to block anyone from using their personal information to open up new financial accounts in their name.

Fraudsters typically need key details about you to open new accounts, such as your full name, Social Security number, date of birth, address, and sometimes additional details like a driver’s license number or existing account information.

However, if hackers gain access to this data, they can impersonate you and apply for credit cards, loans, or other financial accounts without your knowledge.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, cybersecurity expert James Knight revealed how these ongoing attacks have opened up millions, and potentially billions, of people to devious phishing scams online and over the phone.

After the Salesforce database connected to Google was breached, Knight explained how scammers were using the information they obtained to track down Gmail users, impersonate Google employees, and trick them into revealing their passwords.

‘If you do get a text message or a voice message from Google, don’t trust it’s from Google. Nine times out of ten, it’s likely not,’ he warned.

The pen tester for DigitalWarfare.com added that hackers were also attempting to force their way into people’s accounts by trying easy-to-guess passwords, like ‘password,’ on any email accounts they were able to find.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Gambino Crime Family Members Admit Guilt in Violent Extortion Scandal: Major Mobster Takedown

A group of mobsters admitted guilt on Friday for engaging in a…

Illinois Shocker: ICE Nabs Illegal Immigrant Posing as Police Officer with Badge, Gun, and Pension

In a surprising turn of events in Hanover Park, Illinois, Immigration and…

Meet the Bold Vigilante Outsmarting London’s Thieves and Outshining the Police

The Band of the Irish Guards had just concluded their march through…

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater Call Off Wedding: Insider Details Unveiled

If you’re trying to catch a glimpse of them, you might find…

Mariners on Brink of Historic World Series Berth: Eugenio Suárez’s Grand Slam Powers ALCS Triumph Over Blue Jays

By Andrew Destin SEATTLE (AP) — Eugenio Suárez delivered a decisive grand…

Democratic Politician Issues Apology After Controversial Sexual Assault Comments Resurface: A Closer Look

A Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Maine has issued a…

Inside Taylor Swift and Blake Lively’s Current Friendship Status: What You Need to Know

Reports suggest that Taylor Swift and her former close friend Blake Lively…

White House Responds with Sharp Rebuke to Liberal Media Over Putin Meeting Coverage

The White House found itself embroiled in a contentious exchange on Friday…

Outrage Erupts as Villa Park’s Ban on Israeli Fans Sparks Global Backlash

Emily Damari, a British-Israeli who recently regained her freedom after 471 days…

Trump Criticizes $335 Million Chapel Renovation at Air Force Base

Donald Trump has called for a probe into what he describes as…

Trump Grants Clemency: Former GOP Rep. George Santos’ Sentence Commuted

Former President Donald Trump has commuted the prison sentence of George Santos,…

Liam Payne’s Sister Opens Up About Her Heart-Wrenching Grief One Year Later

Liam Payne’s older sister has shared a deeply moving tribute to her…