Equifax Cyberattack to Affect 143 Million Customers

Equifax Cyberattack to Affect 143 Million Customers

The Atlanta-based company announced the hack on Thursday, and said that intruders were able to access customers' Social Security numbers, addresses, names, birthdays, driver’s license numbers and more.

  • By Nicole Crites
  • Sep 08, 2017

Equifax, one of the top three leaders in consumer credit report agencies, has been hit with one of the biggest cyberattacks in recent years, potentially compromising sensitive information such as Social Security numbers and home addresses for 143 million Americans.

The Atlanta-based company announced the hack on Thursday, and said that intruders were also able to access names, birthdays and driver’s license numbers. Credit card numbers for 209,000 consumers were also stolen, while documents with personal information used in disputes for 182,000 people were taken as well.

The company said that it discovered the intrusion on July 29, when they learned cyber criminals had gained access to certain files in their system from mid-May to July by exploiting a “vulnerability” in website software, according to an investigation by Equifax and security consultants. No evidence of unauthorized activity on its main consumer or commercial credit reporting databases has been found since the hack’s discovery.

“This breach is totally inexcusable,” Mike Schultz, CEO of Cybernance, said. “This wasn’t a technical assault – this was a simple access by hackers through web application that was not properly secured.”

According to their website, Equifax handles data on more than 820 million consumers and more than 91 million businesses worldwide, and manages a database with employee information from more than 7,100 employers.

This is the most high-profile cybersecurity breach since online portal Yahoo reported two separate incidents last year, disclosing breaches that affected at least 1.5 billion users. Equifax isn’t a stranger to cyber security issues either, identity thieves successfully made off with critical W-2 tax and salary data from their website last year. And earlier this year, thieves stole more W-2 tax data from an Equifax subsidiary, TALX, which provides online payroll, tax and human resources services to some of the country’s largest corporations.

“This critical breakdown of internal defenses is no different than every major breach of significance in the past two years,” Schultz said, “but the sensitive information accessed points to extreme danger for the personal wealth and financial health of our economy.”

Equifax said Thursday that it will offer free credit monitoring services to all U.S. consumers for one year and has created a website, www.equifaxsecurity2017.com, to help consumers determine whether their data was at risk.

In addition to reporting the security breach to law enforcement, Equifax hired a cybersecurity firm to conduct a review to determine the scale of the invasion; the investigation is expected to wrap up in the next few weeks.

“This is clearly a disappointing event for our company, and one that strikes at the heart of who we are and what we do,” Richard F. Smith, chairman and chief executive of Equifax, said in a statement. “Confronting cybersecurity risks is a daily fight.”

About the Author

Nicole Crites is an Associate Content Editor at 1105 Media reporting on breaking news, new products and upgrades within the security, safety, health and facilities industries.

Featured

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. Read Now

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.