On November 2, 2023, The Hilb Group Operating Company, LLC (“Hilb”) filed a notice of data breach with the Attorney General of Maine after learning that an unauthorized party was able to access certain employee email accounts. In this notice, Hilb 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, Hilb 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 Hilb Group Operating Company, LLC, it is essential you understand what is at risk and what you can do about it. As we’ve discussed in other posts, your Social Security number is one of the most sensitive pieces of data you have. When hackers unlawfully obtain your SSN, they can quite easily orchestrate fraudulent scams against you, such as identity theft. 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 Hilb Group data breach.
What Caused the Hilb Group Data Breach?
The Hilb Group data breach was only recently announced, and more information is expected in the near future. However, Hilb’s filing with the Attorney General of Maine provides some important information on what led up to the breach. According to this source, on approximately January 10, 2023, Hilb detected suspicious activity within an employee’s email account. In response, Hilb secured the affected email accounts and then began working with third-party data security specialists to investigate the incident.
The Hilb Group’s investigation confirmed that an unauthorized party was able to access several employee email accounts between December 1, 2022 and January 12, 2023. It was later determined that some of the emails and attachments that were accessible to the unauthorized party contained confidential consumer information.
After learning that sensitive consumer data was accessible to an unauthorized party, Hilb Group reviewed the compromised files to determine what information was leaked and which consumers were impacted. The Hilb Group completed this process on July 28, 2023. While the breached information varies depending on the individual, it may include your name and Social Security number.
On October 9, 2023, Hilb Group began sending 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 Hilb Group Operating Company, LLC
Hilb Group Operating Company, LLC is an insurance agency based out of Richmond, Virginia. Hilb offers a wide range of consumer, commercial, employee benefits and specialty insurance products to customers in all 50 states. The Hilb Group employs more than 2,500 people and generates approximately $1.5 billion in annual revenue.