Humane America Animal Foundation recently addressed a data security incident that potentially involved the personal information of its 401(k) program participants. On July 12, 2024, an email was sent to current and past employees enrolled in the program, inadvertently containing a spreadsheet with sensitive data. This included social security numbers, names, email addresses, addresses, and investment amounts. Although there has been no evidence suggesting misuse of the exposed information, the foundation issued a notification out of caution to inform those affected.
After realizing the error on July 13, 2024, Humane America took immediate steps to contain the incident, including requesting that recipients delete the email containing the exposed information. The foundation also initiated an internal review to ensure similar incidents do not occur in the future. The information affected by the breach varied, but it mainly involved sensitive personal details, including social security numbers and financial information related to the 401(k) program.
To mitigate potential risks, Humane America is offering affected individuals complimentary access to Experian IdentityWorks for a period of 36 months. This service includes identity monitoring and support for addressing identity theft or fraud that may arise due to the exposure. Should any fraudulent activity be discovered, Experian agents are available to provide identity restoration assistance, helping individuals resolve issues such as disputed charges, credit freezes, and communication with credit bureaus and government agencies.
Humane America’s response to the incident highlights its commitment to protecting personal information and ensuring affected individuals are supported. The organization’s proactive steps, including offering identity monitoring and restoring services through Experian, aim to prevent harm to those impacted. The foundation also emphasized its efforts to educate employees on security best practices to safeguard against future breaches and maintain trust in its operations.
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