Wichita cyberattack got personal, financial information
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The City of Wichita is revealing that residents’ personal information was stolen during the cyberattack that is affecting the City’s computer network. The City says files that the thieves got include names, Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses or state identification card numbers, and payment card information.
The City says files were copied from the City of Wichita computer network without permission between May 3 and 4. The files contained law enforcement incident and traffic information, which included personal information.
“We identified that this matter is related to a recently disclosed security vulnerability that affects organizations throughout the world,” the City said in a news release on Tuesday.
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KSN News asked the City for more information about the files that were copied, how far back the files are dated, if water payments are part of the copied files, and how the City is notifying citizens. The City did not answer the questions.
“We are working with specialists to thoroughly review and assess systems before putting them back online,” Megan Lovely, City of Wichita communications manager, said. “At this time, the information on Wichita.gov/alert is all I am able to confirm.”
The City’s technical teams have been working to put mitigation measures in place. In the meantime, the City provided information about free resources and steps people can take if they are concerned.
Steps to protect personal information
Monitor relevant accounts
Under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call toll-free 1-877-322-8228. Consumers may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of their credit report.
Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended “fraud alert” on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer’s credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer’s credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer’s identity before extending new credit. If consumers are the victim of identity theft, they are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should consumers wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below.
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As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a “credit freeze” on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer’s express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in a consumer’s name without consent. However, consumers should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in their credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application they make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, consumers cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on their credit report. To request a credit freeze, individuals may need to provide some or all of the following information:
Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);
Social Security number;
Date of birth;
Addresses for the prior two to five years;
Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill;
A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver’s license or ID
card, etc.); andA copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement
agency concerning identity theft if they are a victim of identity theft.
Should consumers wish to place a credit freeze or fraud alert, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:
Equifax—www.equifax.com and 1-888-298-0045
Experian—www.experian.com and 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion—www.transunion.com and 1-800-916-8800
Additional Information
Consumers may further educate themselves regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps they can take to protect their personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or their state Attorney General. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20580;
www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal
Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. Consumers can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. Consumers have the right to file a police report if they ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, consumers will likely need to provide some proof that they have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and the relevant state Attorney General.
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