Earlier this month, a significant data breach struck DC Health Link, a marketplace company that offers insurance plans to residents of Washington, D.C., including members of Congress and their staffers. More than 55,000 customers — including nearly 20 current and former members of Congress — had their Social Security numbers, birthdates, plan enrollment details, addresses, phone numbers, and demographic information exposed.
Days later, the FBI announced that it had purchased some of the personally identifiable information disclosed after the breach from a dark web hacking forum. That confirmed the worst fears of security experts, who always worry after such an incident occurs whether stolen information will actually end up in the hands of cybercriminals.
Perhaps because of the government officials affected, the FBI acted fast to mitigate the negative impact of the breach. On Friday, March 24 — just two weeks after the hack was revealed — the Justice Department announced that the individual responsible for administering Breach Forums, the online marketplace for stolen data, had made his first appearance in court. Meanwhile, the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services worked together to disrupt the forum, permanently knocking its website and database offline.
The accused criminal, a 20-year-old New York man, allegedly built and managed a “Leaks Market” section of his website for buying and selling stolen data. Although he wasn’t a hacker himself, he served as a go-between for people looking to commit cybercrime and those eager to exploit it. He has been charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud and could face up to five years in prison if convicted.
“People expect that their online data will be protected, and the Department of Justice is committed to doing just that,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division in a press release announcing the action. “We must and will remain vigilant to the threat posed by those who attempt to undermine our digital security. We will continue to disrupt the forums that facilitate the theft and distribution of personal information and prosecute those responsible.”
Of course, not every company is lucky enough to have government agencies on the case to prevent data breaches, monitor the dark web for pilfered information, and prosecute hackers who possess it. So what’s the best move for an average business located anywhere in North America to stay safe?
CMIT Solutions has collected the following six tips that outline smart cybersecurity strategies and achievable goals for data security:
CMIT Solutions is committed to helping businesses of all sizes to prepare for and protect against data breaches, information hacks, ransomware infections, and other cyberthreats. We work with everyone from municipal governments to mom-and-pop shops to multinational corporations to defend their data, secure their networks, and empower employees to work productively and efficiently.
If you’re worried about the ongoing threat of information loss or need help protecting your systems, contact CMIT Solutions today. We worry about IT so you don’t have to.
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