Maine officials have revealed that a data breach impacting 1.3 million citizens was due to a vulnerability in the MOVEit file-transfer software, a tool commonly utilized by both government and private bodies states WHDH. This exploit was part of a larger scale cyberattack orchestrated by a Russian ransomware consortium, affecting over 70 million people globally, according to The Hill reports.
The leaked data potentially includes sensitive details like dates of birth, driver's license numbers, social security numbers and health, to mistakenly utilize the medical data. The cyberattack did not solely wreak havoc on Maine's state agencies, but also impacted multiple U.S. federal bodies like the Department of Energy and the Department of Health and Human Services according to The Hill.
In response, Maine launched a dedicated website informing its citizens about the data breach. The state is urging people to use a toll-free number to ascertain if their crucial data has been accessed. Moreover, free credit monitoring services are to be provided for affected individuals. Maine officials stand committed to plugging the software vulnerability and work in tandem with experts and law professionals to alleviate the impact states WHDH.
Not only Maine, but also the Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicles, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, and the Oregon Department of Transportation have reported breaches affecting millions of records The Hill confirms. These episodes underscore the convoluted issues associated with our technologically connected world, and how a single vulnerability can threaten millions.
-1.webp?w=160&h=400&fit=crop&crop=edges)
