Horne LLP, a business advisory and consulting firm, reported a significant data breach affecting over 170,000 individuals to the Maine Attorney General’s office. The breach was discovered in December 2021 when suspicious activity was detected within certain company systems. An investigation confirmed that unauthorized parties had accessed sensitive files and folders between December 8 and December 13, 2021. While the investigation could not verify exactly what information was accessed, Horne launched a detailed manual review to determine the affected individuals.
The potentially compromised data includes names, Social Security numbers, and financial account information of the impacted individuals. Clients such as Cal-Maine Foods and Citizens National Bank were also notified about the breach. The review process took several months, and notifications to the affected parties were completed by October 2023. Horne acted out of caution, despite no clear evidence of any misuse of the information.
To address the potential risks, Horne LLP is offering 24 months of complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft protection services through IDX. The firm has emphasized the importance of taking proactive measures against identity theft, such as monitoring credit reports and placing fraud alerts with major credit bureaus. Horne also implemented additional security measures within its systems to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Horne LLP has expressed regret over the breach and remains committed to ensuring the safety of client information. The firm is also working closely with law enforcement and regulatory authorities regarding the breach. Individuals with questions or concerns about their personal information are encouraged to contact Horne through a dedicated assistance line.
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