Delta Dental, a dental insurance provider established in California in 1966 as part of the Delta Dental Plans Association. Which serves more than 90 million Americans. Offering coverage across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington D.C. It operates through a network comprising 39 independent companies and employs nearly 3,000 people. Regarding the data breach recently
In addition to the recent data breach experienced by Delta Dental. The company also fell victim to another breach in December 2023. In this incident, cybercriminals exploited a vulnerability in MOVEit, Delta Dental’s file transfer software. This attack reportedly impacted over 7 million individuals.
In early December 2024, a recent data breach at Delta Dental reportedly compromised over 802,000 records. Although specifics are still unclear, the breach allegedly exposed information of some employees from Etsy, Coca-Cola, PayPal, and several other companies. The leaked data included names, insurance providers’ details, phone numbers, home addresses, academic qualifications (degrees), and hospital affiliations of those affected.
When the Delta Dental Data Breach Occurred
The latest Delta Dental data breach came to light on December 4, 2024, when the compromised records started appearing on major data breach forums. Some reports suggest that this information might have been circulating in other areas of the dark web prior to becoming public on December 4th. Delta Dental has traced the source of the breach back to MOVEit. A file transfer service responsible for exposing data from multiple organizations in 2023.
How to Check If Your Data Was Breached
If you are worried that your information as a Delta Dental policyholder might have been exposed in their data security incident, consider using online services like Atlas Privacy’s Databreach.com. These platforms allow users to search by names or phone numbers for potential breaches.
Delta Dental is expected to send notification letters to affected individuals. Outlining the details of the information or data compromised in the breach and suggesting recommended actions. In the meantime, it would be wise to monitor your phones for any unusual increase in spam text messages. Which could indicate that your phone number has been exposed.
What to Do If Your Data Was Breached
If you suspect that your information was compromised during the Delta Dental data security incident in December 2024, it’s important to take proactive measures to safeguard yourself. Start by resetting passwords and changing phone numbers on various online platforms if possible. Additionally, consider contacting the three major credit bureaus in the United States—Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian—to freeze your credit. This action will help prevent unauthorized accounts from being opened in your name using details potentially exposed during the breach.
Additionally, if your state law allows it, you can choose to opt out of data collection by reaching out to the services you use and directing them not to gather your data for third-party purposes. You can also ask these services to promptly delete any data they have on file if you’re no longer using their offerings. Furthermore, it’s wise to monitor your credit closely by being vigilant about any unusual activities.
Delta Dental is set to inform individuals impacted by the data breach through written correspondence. If you receive such a letter, be sure to read it thoroughly, comprehend all pertinent details, identify which of your data was exposed, and follow all recommended actions provided by the company.
Are There Any Lawsuits Because of the Data Breach?
No. Although Delta Dental has faced several class actions due to past data security incidents, there have been no lawsuits filed concerning the December 2024 data breach as of mid-December 2024.
Can My Delta Dental Information Be Used for Identity Theft?
Certainly. The December 2024 data breach at Delta Dental exposed sensitive personal information such as names, phone numbers, and home addresses. If this data is obtained by malicious actors, it could be used for identity theft activities like accessing online accounts, opening new accounts or loans in the victim’s name, or applying for credit cards fraudulently. Additionally, there is a risk that scammers might sell this compromised information on dark web marketplaces.
What Can You Do to Protect Yourself Online?
In general, companies that maintain consumer information databases, such as Delta Dental, aim to safeguard this data through a combination of administrative, physical, and electronic measures. Nonetheless, it’s important to understand that no protective method is completely foolproof. As an individual user, you also have a responsibility to protect yourself and your personal information online by following these recommended practices:
- Protect your personal information by avoiding the disclosure of details on social media that might hint at your online profile passwords. Cybercriminals can use this data to deduce your passwords. Additionally, ensure you secure the privacy settings on all your online accounts.
- Ensure that your online profiles are protected by using strong passwords. A robust password should be a minimum of eight characters. Which include a combination of numbers, special symbols, as well as both uppercase and lowercase letters. Additionally, refrain from sharing your passwords with others or recording them in diaries or similar places.
- Exercise caution when using public Wi-Fi networks. It’s important to refrain from transmitting sensitive information over these connections. Also ensure your home network is secured with a password.
- To keep track of changes to your credit file, consider signing up for a credit monitoring service.
- Consistently examine your credit reports and financial accounts for any suspicious activity or unexpected charges.
- If you need to shop online, ensure that you’re using websites with secure technology. Look for web addresses starting with “https” and a small locked padlock icon on the webpage as indicators of security.
- Ensure that all your internet devices, such as mobile phones and computers, are regularly updated with the latest security software and operating systems. These updates are crucial for defending against malware, viruses, and various cyber threats to safeguard your online data. It is highly advisable to set up automatic downloads of these updates on your devices. Additionally, consider installing reputable antivirus software for extra protection against malicious attacks.
- Keep yourself informed by consistently updating your cybersecurity knowledge and staying aware of the latest tactics used by cybercriminals. Utilize educational resources available on websites like IDStrong to help you stay ahead.
- Be cautious of phishing scams that employ fake websites and emails to trick unsuspecting individuals into disclosing login details or credentials for private accounts. If you receive an email from a source that is unfamiliar or seems suspicious, avoid opening any attachments or clicking on links.
- Whenever possible, activate two-factor authentication (2FA) on your online accounts to enhance their security with an additional layer of protection.
- Create a distinct email address for each of your online accounts. Although this approach demands careful organization. It effectively helps maintain the individuality and separation of identities linked to each account or profile.
