Massive data breach alert: AG James urges New Yorkers to secure their data

Attorney General Letitia James addressed the recent data breach impacting millions of New Yorkers, and emphasized the importance of proactive measures to safeguard personal information.
Photo: Ted Shaffrey/AP

New York Attorney General Letitia James has issued a warning to nearly four million New Yorkers on Tuesday in the wake of a significant data breach at Perry Johnson & Associates, a medical transcription company.ย 

The breach, which affected approximately nine million patients nationwide, has put personal information, including Social Security numbers and medical details, at risk of identity theft.

Perry Johnson & Associates, based in Nevada, became aware of the breach in May 2023. The data compromise has affected major health institutions like Northwell Health and Crouse Health, predominantly in New York City and Syracuse.

This incident is not isolated but part of a disturbing trend in which private information is repeatedly leaked, often by companies with which individuals have had no prior interaction. The digital era has brought about a surge in data breaches, leaving personal information vulnerable and raising questions about the security measures employed by companies that handle sensitive data.

In response to this breach, Attorney General James has urged New Yorkers to take immediate and robust measures to protect their personal information.

โ€œI urge all New Yorkers affected by this data breach to stay alert and take these important steps to protect themselves,โ€ said Attorney General James. โ€œBad actors can use the stolen information to impersonate individuals or cause financial harm. Identity theft is a serious issue, and my office will continue to take action to keep New Yorkers safe.โ€

James encouraged people to protect themselves by enrolling in credit monitoring services that can help individuals stay informed of any unusual activities or changes in their credit reports. Additionally, she encouraged people to place a credit freeze with…

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