The city of Miami Gardens, Florida, has informed an undisclosed number of individuals about a significant data breach that occurred in June 2024, compromising approximately 80 GB of personal information. This breach has exposed sensitive data, including names, Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, health insurance information, and dates of birth. The incident raises concerns regarding the security of municipal systems and the potential impact on the affected individuals, whose personal details are now at risk of misuse.
Shortly after the breach, the ransomware group Meow claimed responsibility for the attack and demanded a ransom of $500,000. The group asserted that they had stolen a wide array of sensitive documents, including tax records, police employee data, insurance records, and budget files. However, city officials have yet to confirm the authenticity of Meow’s claims, leaving open questions about the extent of the data compromise and whether any ransom was paid to the attackers.
The breach reportedly allowed unauthorized access to the city’s computer systems as of June 7, 2024. Investigations have indicated that the attackers may have acquired copies of various computer files during this time. The situation remains fluid, with city officials not yet disclosing how many individuals were affected or the specific methods used by the attackers to breach the network. Comparitech has reached out to city officials for further comment, but no response has been provided at this time.
To assist those affected by the breach, the city of Miami Gardens is offering eligible victims 24 months of free credit monitoring services through Experian. This proactive measure aims to help individuals mitigate the risk of identity theft and fraud resulting from the incident. As the investigation continues, residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and monitor their financial accounts and personal information for any signs of unauthorized activity.
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