On December 19, 2024, Colonial Surety Company (“CSC”) filed a notice of data breach with the Attorney General of Massachusetts after discovering that confidential information in the company’s possession was subject to unauthorized access. In this notice, CSC explains that the incident resulted in an unauthorized party being able to access consumers’ sensitive information, which includes their names and Social Security numbers. Upon completing its investigation, CSC 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 Colonial Surety Company, 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 Colonial Surety Company data breach. For more information, please see our recent piece on the topic here.
What Caused the Colonial Surety Company Data Breach?
The Colonial Surety Company data breach was only recently announced, and more information is expected in the near future. However, CSC’s filing with the Attorney General of Massachusetts provides only limited information on what led up to the breach.
According to this source, on May 2, 2024, CSC experienced a network security incident that impacted portions of the company’s computer network. In response, CSC addressed the incident by working with external cybersecurity experts to conduct an investigation on what led up to the incident and what, if any, confidential information in the company’s possession may have been compromised.
On December 6, 2024, the CSC investigation confirmed that an unauthorized party was able to access files on its network that contained information belonging to certain individuals. The unauthorized access occurred on May 2, 2024.
After learning that sensitive consumer data was accessible to an unauthorized party, Colonial Surety Company reviewed the compromised files to determine what information was leaked and which consumers were impacted. While the breached information varies depending on the individual, it may include your name and Social Security number.
On December 19, 2024, Colonial Surety Company 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 Colonial Surety Company
Colonial Surety Company is a national insurance and surety bond provider that helps businesses, professionals, and individuals meet their bonding and insurance requirements. Headquartered in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, Colonial Surety offers a wide range of products, including contractor bonds, fidelity bonds, court bonds, license and permit bonds, and insurance solutions for fiduciaries and retirement plan professionals. Colonial Surety also provides digital tools that allow customers to quickly secure bonds and insurance online. The company employs approximately 50 people and generates an estimated $25 million in annual revenue.
