On September 6, 2024, Vista Higher Learning, Inc. (“VHL”) filed a notice of data breach with the Attorney General of Massachusetts after discovering that it was the victim of a cyberattack. In this notice, VHL explains that the incident resulted in an unauthorized party being able to access consumers’ sensitive information, which includes their names, Social Security numbers and financial account information. Upon completing its investigation, VHL 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 Vista Higher Learning, Inc., 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 Vista Higher Learning data breach. For more information, please see our recent piece on the topic here.

What Caused the Vista Higher Learning Data Breach?

The Vista Higher Learning data breach was only recently announced, and more information is expected in the near future. However, VHL’s filing with the Attorney General of Massachusetts provides some important information on what led up to the breach. According to this source, on July 23, 2024, VHL detected suspicious activity suggesting that an unauthorized party may have accessed its IT network. In response, VHL enlisted the help of the company’s IT vendor, Rapid7, to investigate the incident.

Through this investigation, VHL confirmed that, on July 10, 2024, an unauthorized party exploited a vulnerability to gain access to part of VHL’s network. Through additional investigation, VHL determined that some of the files that were accessible to the unauthorized party contained confidential consumer information. The unauthorized activity was terminated on July 25, 2024.

After learning that sensitive consumer data was accessible to an unauthorized party, Vista Higher Learning 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, Social Security number and financial account information.

On September 6, 2024, Vista Higher Learning 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 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

Founded in 2000, Vista Higher Learning, Inc. is an education and media company based out of Boston, Massachusetts. VHL creates print and digital solutions for those looking to learn another language—both in and out of the classroom. VHL has a total enrollment of approximately 2 million. Vista Higher Learning employs more than 86 people and generates approximately $27 million in annual revenue.