New WA data breach exposes personal info of 1.6 million people who applied for unemployment

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

The Washington State Auditor is reporting a December data breach that could have exposed the personal information of 1.6 million Washingtonians who had applied for unemployment benefits in 2020.

The breach was of a third-party server used by the auditor’s office, and may also have exposed data from local governments and other state agencies.

People who filed for unemployment between January and December of 2020, or people whose identities were stolen in last year’s fraud attack, may have had their information exposed.

“I know this is one more worry for Washingtonians who have already faced unemployment in a year scarred by both job loss and a pandemic. I am sorry to share this news and add to their burdens,” State Auditor Pat McCarthy said in a written release. “This is completely unacceptable. We are frustrated and committed to doing everything we can to mitigate the harm caused by this crime.”

https://mynorthwest.com/2531481/data-breach-washington-state-auditor-unemployment/

[thinkingagain]

1. Thank you for posting this

It is so frustrating that these breaches keep happening.
They come out and say oh we will give you a year or two of free credit protection reporting.
Like that is really enough your information is out there forever circling around in the dark web.
I want free protection for the rest of my life and the ability to lock and unlock all three agencies from one login for free.
We should not have to pay to do this or pay to see our credit report.
Yes we get 1 time a year free but stuff happens fast and all the time.
That is why the information and alerts of changes and the ability to lock and unlock those account should be free all the time as many times as we want.
Just like I can log into my bank as often as I want the information belongs to me
Not some private company.
Sorry about the rant.

This info came on top of several other things last week that has me riled up.

I am thankful for Yo_Mama for posting to give a heads up.
Can always depend you to post good info.