Fidelity Investments Data Breach Exposes 77,000 Customers' Personal Information

Fidelity Investments Data Breach Exposes 77,000 Customers' Personal Information

Fidelity Investments Data Breach: What You Need to Know

Another major data breach has shaken the financial world. Fidelity Investments, one of the largest asset managers globally, reported that over 77,000 customers had their personal information exposed between August 17 and 19, 2024. While no financial accounts were accessed, sensitive information such as Social Security numbers and driver’s licenses was compromised.

This breach underscores the growing risks in the cybersecurity landscape, even for institutions entrusted with massive amounts of customer data. Fidelity quickly detected and terminated the breach on August 19 and is now offering affected customers 24 months of free credit monitoring and identity restoration services.

What Happened?

According to a filing with Maine’s attorney general, the breach was traced to two fraudulent customer accounts created by a third party. These accounts provided attackers with access to personal data, impacting over 77,000 Fidelity customers. However, the breach represents only a small portion of Fidelity's 51.5 million customer base.

What Steps Should You Take to Protect Yourself?

Even if you weren’t affected by this specific breach, it’s critical to protect yourself. Here are some key actions to take now:

1. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) on your accounts.
2. Monitor your financial accounts regularly for any suspicious activity.
3. Change your passwords and use a strong, unique combination for each account.
4. Sign up for identity theft protection services to safeguard your personal information.
5. Be cautious of phishing attacks, which often increase after data breaches.
6. Consider personal data removal services to reduce your exposure online.

What’s Next for Fidelity?

Fidelity has made efforts to address the breach, but cybersecurity experts suggest the company needs to implement more robust measures to prevent future incidents. As cybersecurity threats continue to rise, companies like Fidelity must prioritize advanced security solutions to protect customers' sensitive data.

To learn more about the Fidelity breach and what steps you can take to protect yourself, read the full article here: Read more https://technijian.com/cyber-security/fidelity-investments-data-breach-exposes-personal-information-of-77000-customers/