Most of us worry about someone stealing a credit card number. But a recent cyberattack on an insurance company may have put something far more personal at risk: your driver’s license information.
An insurance company called AssuranceAmerica was hit by hackers, and the breach exposed the records of nearly 7 million people. The attack happened back in March, but details are only now becoming public.
What the Hackers Got
According to the company, hackers got in by targeting an employee. They were then able to copy customer files. Those files reportedly contained insurance policy and claims information, driver details, and driver’s license numbers.
So why is that worse than a stolen credit card? If someone steals your credit card number, you cancel it and move on. Your driver’s license is a different story. It holds your full name, address, birthday, license number, and other identifying details. Combined with other stolen data, that information can be used to open accounts in your name, create fake IDs, change your mailing address, or pull off other identity-theft schemes.
As of now, there are no public reports that the stolen information has been misused. But identity thieves are known for waiting, sometimes for years, before acting on stolen data.
Which States Are Affected?
AssuranceAmerica writes auto and renters insurance policies in 12 states. If you have ever had coverage with them, even years ago, your information could be involved. The affected states are:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Florida
- Georgia
- Indiana
- Nebraska
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
What You Should Do Now
AssuranceAmerica says it began mailing notification letters to affected customers on July 10. But even if you do not receive one, it is worth taking a few steps now.
- Freeze your credit and set up fraud alerts if you have not already done so
- Watch your bank accounts and credit reports closely for anything unusual
- Request your driving record and consider running a background check on yourself, since your license number may have been exposed; this is one of the quickest ways to catch misuse early
- Contact your state’s DMV if you find evidence your license information has been used without your knowledge; depending on your state, you may be able to get a new license number
It might feel like a lot of extra steps for something that may never affect you. But when it comes to your identity, catching a problem early is always easier than sorting it out later.