Oh no! A data breach has put more than 35,000 individuals at risk in the City of Philadelphia! The city’s email system was infiltrated between May and July of 2023, potentially exposing sensitive personal information.
Those who may have been impacted received a letter from the city. Fortunately, there has been no indication of identity theft or fraud resulting from the cyber attack. However, an “unauthorized actor” may have had access to certain information, as stated in the letter sent out.
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Personal details such as full names, addresses, date of birth, Social Security numbers, and health-related information could have been exposed during the breach, though the extent of this varies among individuals.
“The security of information is of utmost importance to us,” the city’s letter emphasizes. “Upon learning of this event, we acted immediately to enhance the security of our systems and email platform.”
According to a filing made by the City of Philadelphia to the attorney general of Maine, as reported by Bleeping Computer, a total of 35,881 individuals were affected, including 15 Maine residents. The breach was identified on May 24, 2023, and reported on July 28, 2023, with notices sent out to residents beginning July 8.
If you have any questions regarding the data breach, feel free to contact the assistance line at 1-866-898-0867, available Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., or reach out to the city via email at HIPAAPrivacy@phila.gov.