The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is investigating a data breach at an address verification company that may have compromised vehicle registration information of millions of Californians.
The breach occurred at Automatic Funds Transfer Services (AFTS), a Seattle-based contractor that the DMV uses to verify vehicle registration addresses. AFTS was hit by a ransomware attack earlier this month, and it is believed that the attackers may have stolen data from the company, including names, addresses, license plate numbers, and vehicle identification numbers (VINs) of millions of Californians.
The DMV said that it does not believe that Social Security numbers, dates of birth, voter registration, immigration status, or driver's license information were compromised in the breach. However, the DMV is still investigating, and it is possible that other sensitive information may have been exposed.
The DMV is notifying affected Californians by mail, and it is offering them free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services. The DMV is also urging Californians to be on the lookout for signs of identity theft, such as unauthorized credit card charges or new accounts opened in their name.
This is the second major data breach to hit the DMV in recent years. In 2015, the DMV was hacked, and the personal information of millions of Californians was exposed.
The DMV has said that it is taking steps to improve its security measures, and it is working with law enforcement to investigate the latest breach.
Facts about the California DMV data breach:
The breach occurred at AFTS, a Seattle-based contractor that the DMV uses to verify vehicle registration addresses.
The breach may have compromised the personal information of millions of Californians, including names, addresses, license plate numbers, and VINs.
The DMV does not believe that Social Security numbers, dates of birth, voter registration, immigration status, or driver's license information were compromised in the breach.
The DMV is notifying affected Californians by mail, and it is offering them free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services.
The DMV is urging Californians to be on the lookout for signs of identity theft, such as unauthorized credit card charges or new accounts opened in their name.
This is the second major data breach to hit the DMV in recent years.
The DMV has said that it is taking steps to improve its security measures, and it is working with law enforcement to investigate the latest breach.
Tips for protecting yourself from data breaches:
Use strong passwords and change them regularly.
Be careful about what information you share online.
Be wary of phishing emails and text messages.
Install security software on your computer and keep it up to date.
Monitor your credit report for any unauthorized activity.
By following these tips, you can help to protect your personal information from being compromised in a data breach.
How to protect yourself if you are affected by the California DMV data breach:
If you are a California resident and you are concerned that your information may have been compromised in the DMV data breach, you can contact the DMV at 1-800-777-0133.
You can also visit the DMV website for more information.
The DMV is offering free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services to affected Californians.
You can sign up for these services by visiting the DMV website or by calling 1-800-777-0133.
You should also monitor your credit report for any unauthorized activity.
