These impacted by the breach shall be notified by way of mail and cellphone name to a devoted hotline.
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Division of Transportation has confirmed a significant knowledge breach that compromised almost 300,000 information of crash stories.
The breach occurred on Could 12, when a hacker gained entry to a private TxDOT account. The compromised knowledge consists of delicate private data resembling names, addresses, driver’s license numbers and insurance coverage particulars — knowledge that would doubtlessly be used for id theft or fraud.
Officers stated the breach affected information inside TxDOT’s Crash Data Info System (CRIS), doubtlessly impacting tons of of hundreds of Texans who filed accident stories with the company.
“Private data included in crash information could include: first and final identify, mailing and/or bodily deal with, driver license quantity, license plate quantity, automotive insurance coverage coverage quantity and different data,” the company stated in an announcement.
Though “notification, on this case, isn’t required by regulation,” TxDOT is taking proactive steps to tell the general public. The company has begun notifying affected people by way of junk mail and has arrange a devoted hotline for these impacted by the breach.
People who obtain a notification letter can name 1-833-918-5951 (toll-free) Monday via Friday, from 8 a.m. to eight p.m. Central Time, excluding U.S. holidays. Callers ought to have their engagement quantity, included within the letter, prepared when contacting the hotline.
In response to the breach, TxDOT stated it has taken a number of quick actions to stop additional unauthorized entry. These embrace disabling the compromised account, launching an inside investigation and strengthening safety measures.
The company has not disclosed the id of the hacker or whether or not the breach was half of a bigger coordinated cyberattack. The investigation stays ongoing as officers work to evaluate the complete extent of the incident and enhance cybersecurity protocols.
