Posted On May 13, 2023 Consumer Privacy & Data Breaches
May 13 – An article detailing a recent data breach at Mercer University was published online on May 9, 2023. The breach was the result of a cyberattack, which allowed an unknown entity to get access to personal data belonging to both students and faculty. According to the report filed by the university, the event led to the disclosure of consumers’ first and surname names as well as their driver’s license and Social Security numbers to an unauthorized third party. Mercer University started distributing data breach notification letters to all persons affected by the incident once it was confirmed that confidential data was exposed.
Mercer University’s data breach is being investigated by data breach lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. Your personal information may have been compromised if you got a breach notice, making you vulnerable to fraud or identity theft. Contact us for a free consultation so we can discuss your legal options for obtaining financial compensation from Mercer University.
Located in Macon, Georgia, the 12 schools that make up Mercer University’s private academic institution include: business, law, music, pharmacy, health professions, nursing, medical, liberal arts and sciences, engineering, theology, and the college of professional growth. The university, which opened its doors in 1833, is now home to over 9,000 students. The yearly income for Mercer University is over $211 million, and the university employs around 1,885 employees.
A statement on the university’s website states that Mercer University recently discovered that a hacker had gained access to the university’s computer network. Mercer University coordinated its next actions with local authorities and cybersecurity experts.
The investigation conducted by Mercer University revealed that the hacker gained access to sensitive data stored in several files on the university’s computer system.
After learning that private student and faculty information had fallen into the wrong hands, Mercer University conducted a thorough investigation of the stolen files to ascertain the nature of the breach and the number of affected users. Your first and last name, driver’s license number, and Social Security number are just some of the personal data that might have been compromised.
All people whose data was compromised as a consequence of the incident were notified by letter on May 9, 2023.
Hackers don’t waste time when they get possession of important information before using it or selling it on the dark web. Because hackers usually have the upper hand, a breach victim must move immediately to mitigate the damage from the leak of sensitive data.
Here are several precautions you may start doing immediately. If your financial information has been hacked, further measures may be necessary beyond those on this list.
Personal information that has been compromised due to a data breach will be communicated to those impacted. These letters will inform you of the event, how it occurred, the steps Mercer University is doing to secure your data moving forward, and whether or not you were a victim of fraud or identity theft. Don’t rush into any judgments before reading the data breach notice in full.
Free fraud alerts and credit freezes are offered by all three credit bureaus to their consumers. No one will be able to use your credit without your explicit approval once you have placed a freeze on it. A fraud alert is a warning signal that may be seen by other companies. If identity theft or fraud is suspected, the company pulling your credit report will be notified.
Once hackers get their hands on your information, they’ll waste no time putting it to use, but they might not have had enough useful information to commit their crimes with the data they obtained. In such instances, it might take a few weeks to a few months before your data is put to use while they gather the necessary context. Maintain vigilance over all of your accounts for signs of fraud.
Even if your bank information was not compromised, you should still take steps to secure all of your online accounts. All of your passwords need to be changed immediately. When perpetrating fraudulent or fictitious activities, hackers often scour the web seeking more accounts to access. Take advantage of two-factor authentication if it’s available.
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 Mercer University 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.
