What the MOVEit Data Breach Means for Families: Court Case Update

A federal court is handling lawsuits related to the MOVEit data breach, which affected millions of people. MOVEit is file transfer software made by Progress Software, and many companies used it to move sensitive information.

When hackers broke into this system, they accessed data from numerous organizations. The court recently rejected attempts by the defendants to dismiss negligence claims under laws in California, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. You may be affected if you received a notification letter from any company, government agency, or organization telling you that your data was exposed in the MOVEit breach. This could include your name, address, Social Security number, or other personal details. Many different types of organizations used MOVEit, including healthcare providers, insurance companies, and government offices. If you were notified about the MOVEit breach, here is what to do:

1. Review the notification letter you received to see exactly what information was exposed.
2. Follow any specific instructions in that letter, such as free credit monitoring services being offered.
3. Place a fraud alert or credit freeze on your credit reports by contacting Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
4. Monitor your bank accounts, credit cards, and medical statements for any suspicious activity.
5. Save all documentation related to the breach, as legal cases are ongoing. Protect yourself long term by checking your credit reports regularly at AnnualCreditReport.com. Consider freezing your credit if you do not plan to apply for new credit soon. A credit freeze prevents criminals from opening new accounts in your name. Stay alert for phishing emails that might pretend to be related to this breach but are actually trying to steal more information from you.