In December 2022, Wabtec Corporation posted notice on its website regarding a recent data breach after the company detected unusual activity that was later confirmed to be a malware attack. Based on the company’s notice, the incident resulted in an unauthorized party gaining access to consumers’ full names, Social Security numbers, financial account information, protected health information, criminal histories and more. After confirming that consumer data was leaked, Wabtec began sending out data breach notification letters to all individuals who were impacted by the recent data security incident.
If you worked for or did business with Wabtec in the past, you shouldn’t be surprised if you receive a data breach letter in the mail explaining that your personal information was compromised in the recent breach. As we’ve discussed in previous posts, hackers specifically target highly sensitive information in hopes of being able to use it to their advantage, usually by committing identity theft. Therefore, as a result of the Wabtec data breach, you are now at an increased risk of being the target of fraud. However, as a data breach victim, you have certain rights, including the right to pursue a legal claim against any company that leaks your personal information. While the investigation into the Wabtec breach is ongoing, data breach lawyers are currently reviewing victims’ options and can help them determine the best course of action.
What We Know So Far About the Wabtec Corp. Breach
The available information regarding the Wabtec Corp. breach comes from a notice posted on the company’s website. According to this source, on June 26, 2022, Wabtec first noticed unusual activity within its computer network. Unsure what could have caused the activity, Wabtec launched an investigation with the assistance of leading cybersecurity firms.
The company’s investigation confirmed the unauthorized access and determined that it was the result of a malware-based cyberattack that began as early as March 2022. Further investigation revealed that some of the files that were accessible to the unauthorized party contained sensitive information belonging to certain individuals.
Upon discovering that sensitive consumer data was made available to an unauthorized party, Wabtec Corp. began to review the affected files to determine what information was compromised and which consumers were impacted. While the breached information varies depending on the individual, it may include your first and last name, date of birth, non-US national ID number, non-US social insurance number or fiscal code, passport number, IP address, employer identification number (EIN), USCIS or alien registration number, NHS (national health service) number, medical record & health insurance information, photograph, gender/gender identity, salary, Social Security Number, financial account information, payment card information, account username and password, biometric information, race/ethnicity, criminal conviction or offense, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, and union affiliation.
In late December 2022, Wabtec Corp. sent out data breach letters to all individuals whose information was compromised as a result of the recent data security incident. Wabtec has not yet provided an estimate of how many people were impacted by the recent data breach. However, based on the type of leaked information, it would appear likely that the incident affected employees and possibly their dependents.
More Information About Wabtec Corporation
Wabtec Corporation is an industrial manufacturer based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Wabtec was formed by the merger of the Westinghouse Air Brake Company (WABCO) and MotivePower Industries Corporation in 1999. Today, the company provides equipment, systems, digital solutions, and services to the freight and transit rail sectors in over 50 countries. Some of the equipment the company produces includes products for locomotives, freight cars and passenger transit vehicles. Wabtec also manufactures locomotives. Wabtec Corp. employs more than 27,000 people and generates approximately $7 billion in annual revenue. Wabtec is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “WAB.”
