Suffolk County said Wednesday that it is partnering with a cyber firm to offer identity theft protection resulting from the Sept.8 cyberattack on county computers.
Newsday reported Wednesday that as many as 470,000 people who were issued moving violations in Suffolk during the past decade could have had their driver’s license numbers exposed in the attack.
The county set up an Identity Theft Protection webpage, www.suffolkcounty.kroll.com, in partnership with Kroll, a highly-respected cyber security and identity theft protection firm. Through Kroll, the county is offering 12 months of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection to potentially impacted individuals. The services include triple bureau credit monitoring, identity theft restoration services and identity fraud loss reimbursement.
While the digital forensic examination into the cyber-intrusion is ongoing, at this time it has been determined that the following categories of personal protected data may have been accessed by the criminal actors:
- Driver’s License numbers of individuals issued moving violations within the Suffolk County Police District between 2013 and September 8, 2022;
- Identification numbers (such as a driver’s license or passport) presented at Suffolk County’s TPVA in Hauppauge when paying by credit card for Suffolk County-issued tickets, including parking tickets.
Approximately, 470,000 discrete moving violations were issued during that time period The potential exposure of personal protected information for the above-mentioned categories appears to be limited to driver’s licrense numbers only. Additionally, the county said, TPVA credit card payments are processed by a third party so credit card numbers are not at risk and parking tickets, red light camera tickets, and school bus camera violations do not contain personal protected information.
Any individual who meets the criteria above is eligible for the complimentary identity theft protection. In addition to providing this information to local and national media outlets, it will also be shared on social media and posted on the homepage of the county’s website, www.suffolkcountyny.gov.
“The protection of personal, sensitive information is a top priority for the County. The identity protection services the County is offering through Kroll will help provide peace of mind to individuals who may have had specific pieces of their personal information exposed,” said County Executive Steve Bellone.
If the ongoing digital forensic examination discovers any other potentially breached information, the County will share that information publicly and/or alert those individuals directly.
Below is a summary of the services Suffolk County will offer, free of charge, to potentially impacted individuals. Restrictions do apply and individuals should read the documentation carefully.
Potential covered expenses include:
- Application refiling fees;
- Costs incurred to rectify or amend records;
- Costs to contest accuracy of a credit report after identity fraud;
- Loss of income due to time taken to rectify records due to identity fraud;
- Childcare and elderly care costs incurred due to time taken to rectify identity fraud;
- Fraudulent withdrawals ($10,000 limit); and
- Covered Legal Costs (restrictions apply)
Individuals must be prepared to affirm that they fit into one of the above impacted categories and be prepared to provide proof if contacted by the County.
To learn more about eligibility and to activate the services, individuals can visit the Kroll Website at www.suffolkcounty.kroll.com. The site will also be accessible via the home page of the County’s website at www.suffolkcountyny.gov. Credit monitoring and identity theft protection must be activated by February 17, 2023.
Individuals can also contact Suffolk 311 if they have any questions. Within Suffolk County dial 311, outside of Suffolk County call 631-853-6311.