Posted On March 24, 2022 Consumer Privacy & Data Breaches,Personal Injury

Data Breach Alert: Houston Health Department

March 24, 2022 – Recently, the Houston Health Department announced that the COVID-19 test results of more than 10,000 people were inadvertently made accessible to over 3,000 portal users due to a technical issue involving the city’s COVID-19 test results portal.

It is essential that those who receive a data breach notification from the Houston Health Dept. understand what is at risk. The data breach lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. are actively investigating the Houston Health Dept. data breach. As a part of our investigation, we are providing free consultations to anyone affected by the breach who is interested in learning more about the risks of identity theft, what they can do to protect themselves, and what their legal options may be to obtain compensation from the Houston Health Dept.

In 2021, there were 1,862 data breaches affecting more than 189,000,000 individuals. Victims of identity theft spend, on average, 200 hours and more than $1,300 recovering their identity. Many of these victims also suffer credit damage, emotional distress, and may even end up with a criminal record. Taking immediate action is the best way to prevent the worst consequences of a data breach.

What We Know So Far About the Houston Health Dept. Breach

According to a notice posted on the city’s official website, on January 6, 2022, the health department learned that due to what it believes was a technical error related to the COVID-19 test result portal, the test results of more than 10,000 patients were compromised. Along with COVID-19 test results, the other information available as a result of the breach includes individuals’ names, addresses, dates of birth, email addresses, and testing dates. The city specifically notes that no financial information or Social Security numbers were stored on the affected system.

On February 24, 2022, Houston Health Dept. posted notice of the incident on its website and indicated it is in the process of sending out data breach notification letters to all individuals whose information was compromised as a result of the recent data security incident.

The Houston Health Department is the official government health agency of the City of Houston. The Department’s mission is to promote and protect the health and social well-being of all Houstonians. Along those lines, the Department oversees a variety of programs, including COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, pollution control and prevention, epidemiology and disease reporting, and immunizations. With a population of over 2.3 million, Houston is the largest city in Texas and the fourth-largest city in the United States.

Can Residents Whose Data Was Leaked Pursue Legal Action Against a Company?

When you allowed the Houston Health Department access to your personal data, you trusted the city to keep your sensitive information safe. However, news of the Houston Health Department data breach raises some very serious questions about the city’s data security measures and whether it could have done more to prevent this type of breach.

Regardless of the industry, all businesses have a legal obligation to protect consumer information in their possession. Although creating and maintaining a data security system is costly, this is a necessary expense given the importance of consumers’ privacy.

Consumers whose personal, identifying, financial or healthcare-related data was compromised in a data breach can pursue legal action against a company that misused or mishandled their information. However, the investigation into the Houston Health Dept. breach is only in its beginning phases. For that reason, it is too early to tell if Houston Health Department was legally responsible for the breach. However, our data breach attorneys are investigating the Houston Health Dept. security breach to determine the potential legal remedies of those affected.

If you have questions about your ability to pursue a data breach class action lawsuit against Houston Health Department, contact a data breach attorney as soon as possible.

What to Do If You Received a Data Breach Notification from Houston Health Department

If you receive a data breach notification from Houston Health Department in the coming weeks, it means your personal data was among that which was compromised in the recent breach. It also means a stranger may have had access to your personal data. Given the risks involved, it is important you remain vigilant by taking the following steps:

1. Figure Out What Information Was Stolen: Carefully review the data breach letter sent by the Houston Health Department, keeping in mind the information you provided to the city as well as the type of data that was compromised in the breach. You should also take a copy of the data breach letter and keep it for your records. Of course, data breach letters are not always easy to understand. A consumer privacy lawyer can help victims of a data breach understand what was compromised and how to protect themselves.
2. Prevent the Hacker from Accessing Your Accounts: Once you determine the scope of the breach and how it affected you, you should take all steps to prevent anyone from accessing your credit or financial accounts. For example, you should change all passwords and security questions for your online accounts. You should also consider setting up multi-factor authentication where it is available.
3. Protect Your Credit and Your Financial Accounts: In the wake of a data breach, organizations usually provide free credit monitoring services for a specified period of time. This is not a gimmick, and you do not give up any rights by taking a company up on their offer. Additionally, you should contact one of the three main credit bureaus to request a copy of your credit report. Even if you do not notice any signs of fraud or unauthorized activity, it is a good idea to request a fraud alert. Fraud alerts are free and serve as a red flag to potential lenders and creditors that your information was compromised.
4. Consider a Credit Freeze: A credit freeze prevents access to your credit report unless you specifically authorize it. Credit freezes are free and last until you remove them. While placing a credit freeze on your accounts may initially seem like a drastic measure, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center (“ITRC”), doing so is the “single most effective way to prevent a new credit/financial account from being opened.” However, ITRC reports that just 3% of consumers whose information is leaked place a freeze on their accounts. Once a credit freeze is in place, you can temporarily lift the freeze if you need to apply for any type of credit.
5. Regularly Monitor Your Credit Report and Financial Accounts: Protecting yourself in the wake of a data breach is not a one-time task. You should continually monitor your credit report and all financial accounts, keeping an eye out for any signs of unauthorized activity or fraud. You may also consider calling your banks and credit card companies to report the fact that your information was compromised in a data breach.

If You Have Questions About Your Rights Following the Houston Health Dept. Data Breach, Console & Associates, P.C. Can Help

At Console & Associates, P.C., our consumer privacy lawyers monitor all security and data breaches to help affected consumers pursue their legal remedies. We offer free consultations to victims of data breaches and can explain your rights in clear, understandable terms so you can make an informed decision about how to proceed with your case. If you’ve been affected by the Houston Health Department data breach or any other data security incident, Console & Associates, P.C., will investigate your case at no charge and offer you thorough advice about how to most effectively proceed with your case. If you decide to bring a case, we only get paid if you do. If your claim is successful, any legal fees are either paid by the defendant or come out of the funds recovered from the defendant. If your claim doesn’t result in a recovery, you will pay nothing.

To schedule your free consultation, just call (866) 778-5500 today or fill out our secure contact form.