On September 12, 2023, the City of Tomball, Texas (“Tomball”) filed a notice of data breach with the Attorney General of Texas after learning that the City was the recent target of a ransomware attack. In this notice, city officials explain that the incident resulted in an unauthorized party being able to access consumers’ sensitive information, which includes their names, addresses, Social Security numbers, birth dates, driver’s license numbers, and state identification numbers. Upon completing its investigation, Tomball began sending out data breach notification letters to all individuals whose information was affected by the recent data security incident.

If you received a data breach notification from the City of Tomball, Texas, it is essential you understand what is at risk and what you can do about it. A data breach lawyer can help you learn more about how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft, as well as discuss your legal options following the Tomball, Texas data breach. For more information, please see our recent piece on the topic here.

What Caused the Tomball, Texas Breach?

The Tomball, Texas data breach was only recently announced, and more information is expected in the near future. However, Tomball’s filing with the Attorney General of Texas provides some important information on what led up to the breach. According to this source, Tomball officials recently learned that the City was targeted in a ransomware attack. While Tomball doesn’t indicate when exactly it learned about the incident, the City’s investigation confirmed that the attack occurred on December 20, 2022.

Once Tomball officials learned about the attack, they secured all the City’s systems and launched an investigation to determine what, if any, confidential data was exposed.

The Tomball investigation confirmed that the ransomware attackers were able to access portions of the City’s IT network, including files containing confidential resident and employee data. More specifically, the groups of those affected by the breach include current and former employees, users of Tomball Municipal Court, current and former utility customers and city vendors.

After learning that sensitive consumer data was accessible to an unauthorized party, Tomball reviewed the compromised files to determine what information was leaked and which consumers were impacted. Tomball officials concluded this process on May 16, 2023. While the breached information varies depending on the individual, it may include your name, address, Social Security number, birth date, driver’s license number, and state identification number.

On September 12, 2023, Tomball officials sent out data breach letters to anyone who was affected by the recent data security incident. These letters should provide victims with a list of what information belonging to them was compromised.

More Information About the City of Tomball, Texas

Tomball is a city in Harris County, Texas, and is part of the Houston metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, approximately 12,341 people lived in Tomball, up from just over 9,000 people in 2000. Known for its oil and gas resources, Tomball has produced 100 million barrels of oil and 316 billion cubic feet of natural gas in recent history. Tomball, Texas, employs approximately 125 people and generates approximately $65 million in annual revenue.