Don’t underestimate the power of a Cyber Security Breach

TLDR:

Key Points:

• City of Columbus experienced a cyber attack with uncertain number of people affected
• Free credit monitoring offered to employees and residents, with only a small percentage taking advantage of it

In the aftermath of a cyber attack on the City of Columbus, cybersecurity expert Israel Arroyo warns of potential widespread impacts. The city began offering free credit monitoring to affected individuals, but the number of sign-ups remains low compared to the potential number of victims. Arroyo highlights the risks of not separating employee data from civilians and emphasizes that even children could be at risk of identity theft. Mayor Andrew Ginther shared that nearly 10,000 people have signed up for credit monitoring, but with a population of almost a million in the city, the number of affected individuals could be much higher. The incident has also led to multiple police officers reporting compromised bank accounts and the city facing class action lawsuits. Arroyo urges organizations to take proactive measures to protect data and prevent future cyber attacks.