Florida’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced a data breach that they discovered on Monday. The hack into the organization’s online payment system exposed the names of thousands of people who had processed payments for concealed carry permits.
The hack is being investigated. The Department, headed by Commissioner Andrew Putnam, issued a statement about the breach.
Luckily, no financial information such as credit card numbers or bank accounts was attached to the names in the data breach. But, the statement says that 469 people may have had their social security numbers revealed. The agency is offering free credit protection for one year to these individuals. The statement also says that the breach seems to have originated overseas, although no further detail on that was given. Commissioner Putnam has ordered a complete review of the agency’s cybersecurity.
16,190 names of people who are concealed carry licensees were revealed. In Florida, the names of concealed weapons permit holders is considered confidential information. The statement says this number, 16,190, represents less than one percent of the total number of concealed carry licensees. Only people who renewed their permits online were at risk for the hack.
Customers who may have been affected by this data breach can call 1-800-350-1119 for more information.
