Following up on a data breach that it first reported in June, insurance provider Aflac revealed in December that the incursion compromised the personal data of 22.65 million people. In its update, the company said that files containing personal data related to customers, beneficiaries and employees may have included contact information, claims, health information and Social Security numbers.
Aflac said it addressed the breach within hours and began notifying customers soon after. On its homepage, Aflac has a link to a PDF document that includes details on what it’s offering customers to address the breach, including 24 free months of CyEx cybersecurity services.
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The service includes credit monitoring, medical information protection services and identity theft monitoring.
In a press release, the company downplayed the effects of the data breach. “To date, Aflac is not aware of any fraudulent use of personal information and — along with third-party partners — will continue to monitor any fraudulent activity,” it said.
A representative for Aflac told the company has no further comment beyond what it has posted on its website.
The businesses you interact with — insurers, health care providers, financial services companies, retailers and so on — are a trove of personal information about you that cybercriminals are constantly trying to access. Some ways you can protect your private data include locking your Social Security number, improving your passwords and being on guard against phishing.
