On January 19, 2024, First Financial Security, Inc. (“FFS”) filed a notice of data breach on behalf of Lafayette Life Insurance Company (“Lafayette Life”) after discovering that an unauthorized party was able to access its computer network. In this notice, FFS explains that the incident resulted in an unauthorized party being able to access consumers’ sensitive information, which includes their full names, Social Security numbers, and other personal information. Upon completing its investigation, Lafayette Life 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 Lafayette Life Insurance 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 Lafayette Life data breach. For more information, please see our recent piece on the topic here.
Was There a Data Breach Affecting Lafayette Life Customers and Policyholders?
The Lafayette Life data breach was only recently announced, and more information is expected in the near future. However, Lafayette Life’s filing with the Attorney General of Massachusetts provides some important information on what led up to the breach. According to this source, FFS is a national brokerage agency that works to equip, train, and support licensed insurance agents. Because of this, FFS obtains confidential information belonging to life insurance policyholders and brokers.
Evidently, on October 17, 2023, FFS learned that it had recently been the victim of a ransomware attack. In response, FFS secured its system and determined that the ransomware attack was not successful in freezing the company’s system. However, after investigating the incident with the help of third-party data security experts, FFS was able to determine that the hackers responsible for the attack were able to access portions of its IT network.
After learning that sensitive consumer data was accessible to an unauthorized party, FFS reviewed the compromised files to determine what information was leaked and which consumers were impacted. Customers of Lafayette Life were among those whose information was leaked. While the breached information varies depending on the individual, it may include your full name, Social Security number, and other personal information.
On January 19, 2024, First Financial Security 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 Lafayette Life Insurance Company and First Financial Security
Lafayette Life Insurance Company is a life insurance company based out of Cincinnati, Ohio. Lafayette Life is a member of Western & Southern Financial Group, a Cincinnati-based financial services corporation consisting of several companies. Lafayette Life sells a range of life insurance and annuity products. Lafayette Life generates approximately $39 million in annual revenue. Its parent company, Western & Southern Financial Group, generates over $1.9 billion in annual revenue and employs over 3,300 people.
First Financial Security, Inc. is a national insurance brokerage based out of Johns Creek, Georgia. FFS trains and supports licensed insurance agents to sell life insurance products as well as other types of insurance policies. First Financial Security employs more than 75 people and generates approximately $23 million in annual revenue.
