Mercer Data Breach: What & How It Happened?
Twingate Team
•
Jun 20, 2024
In April 2023, Mercer University faced a data breach when the Akira ransomware gang gained unauthorized access to the institution's servers. The breach exposed the personal data of a large number of individuals, and the university promptly informed law enforcement agencies upon discovery. The stolen data poses a risk of identity theft and fraud.
How many accounts were compromised?
The breach impacted data related to over 93,000 individuals.
What data was leaked?
The data exposed in the breach included personal information such as names, Social Security numbers, and driver's license numbers.
How was Mercer hacked?
The Akira ransomware gang breached Mercer University's servers, gaining unauthorized access for nearly two weeks. They exposed the personal data of over 93,000 individuals, posing a risk for identity theft and fraud. The exact methods used by the hackers remain unclear.
Mercer's solution
In response to the hacking incident, Mercer University took action to mitigate the impact of the breach and prevent future occurrences. While specific enhanced security measures remain unclear, the university launched an investigation, informed law enforcement agencies, and sent breach notification letters to affected individuals. Mercer's existing privacy policy also highlights their commitment to implementing administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect personal information from unauthorized access, modification, or disclosure.
How do I know if I was affected?
Mercer University notified affected individuals about the breach. If you believe you may have been affected but did not receive a notification, you can visit HaveIBeenPwned to check your credentials.
What should affected users do?
"In general, affected users should:
Change Your Passwords: Immediately update your passwords for any accounts that may have been compromised. Make sure the new passwords are strong and unique, not previously used on any other platform.
Reset Passwords for Other Accounts: If you've used the same or similar passwords for other online accounts, reset those as well. This is crucial as attackers often try using stolen passwords on multiple sites.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Activate 2FA on any affected accounts. Consider enabling this additional security feature on all other important online accounts to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
Monitor Your Accounts: Keep an eye on your accounts for any suspicious activity. If you notice anything unusual, report it to the appropriate authorities and financial institutions.
For more specific help and instructions related to Mercer's data breach, please contact Mercer's support directly.
Where can I go to learn more?
If you want to find more information on the Mercer data breach, check out the following news articles:
Rapidly implement a modern Zero Trust network that is more secure and maintainable than VPNs.
Mercer Data Breach: What & How It Happened?
Twingate Team
•
Jun 20, 2024
In April 2023, Mercer University faced a data breach when the Akira ransomware gang gained unauthorized access to the institution's servers. The breach exposed the personal data of a large number of individuals, and the university promptly informed law enforcement agencies upon discovery. The stolen data poses a risk of identity theft and fraud.
How many accounts were compromised?
The breach impacted data related to over 93,000 individuals.
What data was leaked?
The data exposed in the breach included personal information such as names, Social Security numbers, and driver's license numbers.
How was Mercer hacked?
The Akira ransomware gang breached Mercer University's servers, gaining unauthorized access for nearly two weeks. They exposed the personal data of over 93,000 individuals, posing a risk for identity theft and fraud. The exact methods used by the hackers remain unclear.
Mercer's solution
In response to the hacking incident, Mercer University took action to mitigate the impact of the breach and prevent future occurrences. While specific enhanced security measures remain unclear, the university launched an investigation, informed law enforcement agencies, and sent breach notification letters to affected individuals. Mercer's existing privacy policy also highlights their commitment to implementing administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect personal information from unauthorized access, modification, or disclosure.
How do I know if I was affected?
Mercer University notified affected individuals about the breach. If you believe you may have been affected but did not receive a notification, you can visit HaveIBeenPwned to check your credentials.
What should affected users do?
"In general, affected users should:
Change Your Passwords: Immediately update your passwords for any accounts that may have been compromised. Make sure the new passwords are strong and unique, not previously used on any other platform.
Reset Passwords for Other Accounts: If you've used the same or similar passwords for other online accounts, reset those as well. This is crucial as attackers often try using stolen passwords on multiple sites.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Activate 2FA on any affected accounts. Consider enabling this additional security feature on all other important online accounts to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
Monitor Your Accounts: Keep an eye on your accounts for any suspicious activity. If you notice anything unusual, report it to the appropriate authorities and financial institutions.
For more specific help and instructions related to Mercer's data breach, please contact Mercer's support directly.
Where can I go to learn more?
If you want to find more information on the Mercer data breach, check out the following news articles:
Rapidly implement a modern Zero Trust network that is more secure and maintainable than VPNs.
Mercer Data Breach: What & How It Happened?
Twingate Team
•
Jun 20, 2024
In April 2023, Mercer University faced a data breach when the Akira ransomware gang gained unauthorized access to the institution's servers. The breach exposed the personal data of a large number of individuals, and the university promptly informed law enforcement agencies upon discovery. The stolen data poses a risk of identity theft and fraud.
How many accounts were compromised?
The breach impacted data related to over 93,000 individuals.
What data was leaked?
The data exposed in the breach included personal information such as names, Social Security numbers, and driver's license numbers.
How was Mercer hacked?
The Akira ransomware gang breached Mercer University's servers, gaining unauthorized access for nearly two weeks. They exposed the personal data of over 93,000 individuals, posing a risk for identity theft and fraud. The exact methods used by the hackers remain unclear.
Mercer's solution
In response to the hacking incident, Mercer University took action to mitigate the impact of the breach and prevent future occurrences. While specific enhanced security measures remain unclear, the university launched an investigation, informed law enforcement agencies, and sent breach notification letters to affected individuals. Mercer's existing privacy policy also highlights their commitment to implementing administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect personal information from unauthorized access, modification, or disclosure.
How do I know if I was affected?
Mercer University notified affected individuals about the breach. If you believe you may have been affected but did not receive a notification, you can visit HaveIBeenPwned to check your credentials.
What should affected users do?
"In general, affected users should:
Change Your Passwords: Immediately update your passwords for any accounts that may have been compromised. Make sure the new passwords are strong and unique, not previously used on any other platform.
Reset Passwords for Other Accounts: If you've used the same or similar passwords for other online accounts, reset those as well. This is crucial as attackers often try using stolen passwords on multiple sites.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Activate 2FA on any affected accounts. Consider enabling this additional security feature on all other important online accounts to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
Monitor Your Accounts: Keep an eye on your accounts for any suspicious activity. If you notice anything unusual, report it to the appropriate authorities and financial institutions.
For more specific help and instructions related to Mercer's data breach, please contact Mercer's support directly.
Where can I go to learn more?
If you want to find more information on the Mercer data breach, check out the following news articles:
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