The Illinois Secretary of State’s office recently alerted approximately 50,000 residents about a data breach that occurred in early April. The breach was initiated through a phishing email sent from a compromised Lake County Government account to employees of the Secretary of State’s office. This phishing attempt resulted in the possible exposure of names, driver’s licenses, and Social Security numbers.
In response to the breach, the Secretary of State’s office has offered free credit monitoring to those affected. Additionally, the office confirmed that while the email accounts of two employees were infiltrated, none of the agency’s critical databases, including those containing driver and vehicle records, were compromised.
The Secretary of State’s office is taking significant steps to enhance its cybersecurity framework. These measures include engaging third-party cybersecurity experts to conduct a forensic audit, strengthening data security protocols, and implementing additional security measures to prevent future attacks. The office’s proactive notification and commitment to improving its IT infrastructure aim to alleviate concerns and ensure the protection of personal data moving forward.
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