Posted On October 7, 2022 Consumer Privacy & Data Breaches
October 7, 2022 – Recently, Northern Data Systems, Inc. filed notice of a data breach with the Massachusetts Attorney General after an unauthorized party was able to gain access to the company’s IT network. Based on the company’s official filing, the incident resulted in an unauthorized party gaining access to consumers’ names, Social Security numbers, phone numbers, addresses, driver’s license numbers, medical information and financial information. After confirming that consumer data was leaked, Northern Data Systems began sending out data breach notification letters to all individuals who were impacted by the recent data security incident.
If you received a data breach notification, it is essential you understand what is at risk. The data breach lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. are actively investigating the Northern Data Systems data breach on behalf of people whose information was exposed. As a part of this 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 Northern Data Systems, Inc.
The available information regarding the Northern Data Systems breach comes from the company’s filing with the Attorney General of Massachusetts. At this point, the company has not yet posted notice of the incident on its website; however, according to the Northern Data Systems filing with the Massachusetts AG, on May 13, 2022, the company learned that an unauthorized third party had gained access to a portion of its network. While it remains unclear how the incident came to light, in response, Northern Data Systems secured its systems and began working with a third-party cybersecurity firm to investigate the incident and determine what, if any, consumer information was compromised.
The investigation confirmed unauthorized access to files containing sensitive consumer information. Next, with the assistance of a data review firm, Northern Data Systems began to review the affected files to determine what information was compromised and which consumers were impacted. While the breached information varies depending on the individual, it may include your name, Social Security number, phone number, address, driver’s license number, medical information and financial information.
Once Northern Data Systems company completed its investigation, it sent out data breach letters to all individuals whose information was compromised as a result of the recent data security incident.
Established in 1975, Northern Data Systems, Inc. is a software company based in Falmouth, Maine. The company develops a range of software applications for utilities, credit unions, local government, and healthcare organizations. Some of the company’s products include EDIFICE, SHARETEC, INVISION, and INSIGHT. Northern Data Systems employs roughly 30 people and generates between $25 to $100 million in annual revenue.
After a data breach, the organization responsible for leaking consumer information may be liable through a data breach lawsuit. However, just because a breach occurred and your information was compromised doesn’t necessarily mean that the company you trusted with your information is financially responsible for any harm you suffered. Only when a company’s negligence was a contributing factor leading up to the breach is it legally liable for a victim’s damages.
While all data breach lawsuits are complex, third-party data breaches are especially so. The term third-party data breach describes an incident where the company that was targeted in the cyberattack is not the same organization that was initially entrusted with the leaked information. Based on Northern Data Systems’ letter, the company provides computing services, including data hosting, to other companies. Thus, when Northern Data Systems’ IT network was breached, it exposed information belonging to the company’s clients’ customers. Many of these victims probably had no idea that a company named “Northern Data Systems” was in possession of their information.
In a situation such as this one, determining which company is liable for the data breach can be challenging, and consumers whose information was leaked may not know where to look for answers. However, generally speaking, any company that maintains, stores, transmits or receives consumer data has a legal obligation to the consumer—regardless of whether the company that was breached received the information directly from a consumer. In fact, for the most part, it does not matter how a company comes into possession of consumer data. Instead, the question is whether the company that was hacked or otherwise leaked the information was negligent.
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 Northern Data Systems 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.
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