Posted On April 13, 2023 Consumer Privacy & Data Breaches
April 13 – After being the target of a cyberattack that exposed sensitive customer data, Baldor Specialty Foods notified the Maine Attorney General’s office of the incident on April 7, 2023. According to the company’s official report, the breach allowed an outsider to obtain access to the personal information of some of its customers, including their names, birthdays, residences, Social Security numbers, and information connected to their insurance and other benefits. Baldor began distributing data breach notification letters to all persons affected by the recent data security incident after it was confirmed that customer data was compromised.
If you’ve been notified of a data breach, it’s crucial that you know what information is in danger. Console & Associates, P.C., data breach lawyers representing victims of data breaches, are currently looking into the Baldor Specialty Foods incident. As part of our inquiry, we are offering free consultations to anyone whose personal information was compromised by Baldor Specialty Foods and who is concerned about the possibility of identity theft, the steps they can take to protect themselves, and the potential legal recourse they may have in seeking compensation from the company.
Baldor Specialty Foods may have its headquarters in the Bronx, but it imports and distributes groceries and specialty foods throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including in Maryland, Maine, Virginia, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Washington D.C., Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and New York. Produce, meats, cheeses, organic goods, baked goods, seafood, prepared meals, and more are just a few of the products this firm sells. Baldor Specialty Foods, which has been around since 1991, currently has a workforce of over a thousand employees and an annual revenue of over $740 million.
Baldor was informed on February 25, 2023, that it had been the target of a cyberattack, according to a document filed with the Maine Attorney General. Baldor’s answer was to encrypt its network and launch an investigation with the help of a top cybersecurity company.
From February 7th to the 25th of 2023, a hostile actor accessed certain data on the Baldor network, according to the research. The business also found that the unauthorized person gained access to various folders where sensitive information about some customers was stored.
Baldor Specialty Foods has begun reviewing the affected files to establish what information was stolen and how many customers were affected following the discovery that sensitive customer data was made available to an unauthorized person. Your name, date of birth, address, Social Security number, and information relating to insurance and other benefits may have been compromised.
Data breach letters were sent out by Baldor Specialty Foods on April 7, 2023, to everyone whose personal information was exposed in the breach.
Those responsible for a data breach can be held accountable, including businesses, nonprofits, and even governments. Millions of Americans are affected by data breaches every year, and many become victims of identity theft or other crimes. While identity theft can have far-reaching consequences, victims typically spend hundreds of hours trying to put the pieces back together. This number, though, can skyrocket in more complicated situations.
No business wishes to suffer a data breach, and naturally, no business bears complete responsibility for a breach. Data breaches typically occur when hackers aim their attacks at a specific organization. These cybercriminals use complex hoaxes and attacks to get access. However, firms that stay current on all data privacy problems and maintain effective data security measures can block most breaches and promptly detect those that they are unable to stop.
Several types of negligence on the part of a business can directly or indirectly lead to a data leak. A corporation like Baldor Specialty Foods could be held accountable for a data breach if, for instance, an employee fails to encrypt files containing sensitive information while storing them. Similarly, businesses could be held responsible if workers fall for phishing scams and provide sensitive information over email.
These examples of possible negligence on the part of a business in the lead-up to a data breach are, of course, not exhaustive. It can be extremely challenging, if not impossible, for victims of a data breach to know what caused the breach, which can make it difficult to determine whether or not they have a claim. Data breach lawyers are currently investigating the recent breach to establish victims’ legal remedies.
The consumer privacy lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. help customers affected by data and security breaches pursue legal solutions by offering free consultations. By explaining your rights in clear, concise terms, we help you make an informed decision about your next steps. If you are a victim of the Baldor Specialty Foods data breach, Console & Associates, P.C. will investigate at no charge to you and offer advice on how to proceed. If you decide to pursue a case, rest assured that we don’t get paid unless you do. If your claim is successful, legal fees are either paid out of the funds recovered or by the defendant. If your claim is not successful, you pay nothing.
To schedule your free consultation, just call (866) 778-5500 today or fill out our secure contact form.
Below is a portion of the letter sent to affected individuals:
Dear [Redacted],
We are writing to inform you of an incident that may have affected your personal information. On February 25, 2023, Baldor Specialty Foods received an initial indication that we sustained a cyberattack. We immediately took steps to isolate and secure our systems and investigate the incident. In addition, we immediately retained a leading cybersecurity firm to conduct a thorough investigation of the incident, remediate any risks, and methodically bring our systems back online. The investigation revealed that the malicious actor accessed certain Baldor systems at various times from February 7, 2023 to February 25, 2023. During this time period, the malicious actor acquired certain files from our systems, including documents that may have contained some of your personal information. However, Baldor was able to quickly recover and there is no indication that the data was retained or shared. Therefore, we have no reason to suspect your information will be used for malicious purposes.
What Information Was Involved? The type of information that was potentially compromised included information that we collected for human resources purposes, such as your name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, insurance and other benefits information. You may be receiving this letter as the spouse or dependent of an employee or former employee of Baldor.
What is Baldor Doing? We have added advanced cybersecurity detection and monitoring tools on our newly restored systems for an additional layer of security and visibility across our network. We will also continue to make infrastructure enhancements to continuously strengthen and harden the security posture of our network and systems in the days, months, and years ahead. We are offering identity theft protection services through IDX, the data breach and recovery services expert. IDX identity protection services include: 24 months of credit and CyberScan monitoring, a $1,000,000 insurance reimbursement policy, and fully managed identity theft recovery services. With this protection, IDX will help you resolve issues if your identity is compromised. To receive credit services, you must be over the age of 18, have established credit in the U.S., have a Social Security number in your name, and have a U.S. residential address associated with your credit file. If you do not have a credit file, you will not be able to register for credit monitoring services, but you will receive CyberScan monitoring, insurance, and the fully managed identity recovery services from IDX.
What Can You Do? Although we have no evidence that your personal information will be used for fraudulent purposes, you should always remain vigilant and review statements and credit reports. Refer to the attached “Recommended Steps” for further information. At this time, we have not received any reports that personal information has been subject to fraudulent activity. However, we encourage you to take full advantage of this service offering. IDX representatives have been fully versed on the incident and can answer questions or concerns you may have regarding protection of your personal information.
For More Information You will find detailed instructions for enrollment on the enclosed Recommended Steps document. Also, you will need to reference the enrollment code at the top of this letter when calling or enrolling online, so please do not discard this letter.
