Accellion Data Breach
You may have heard that there was a cybersecurity breach which has impacted University of California students, employees, and other members of the UC community. This breach means that personal identifying information, such as full names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, birthdates, social security numbers, health information, financial information, and other personal information, has been accessed without permission, and some of this information has ended up on the internet. This breach has impacted members of the UC Davis community.
You can find more information about this breach on the University of California website: Frequently asked questions about the Accellion data breach
Recommendations
The University is offering free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services through Experian IdentityWorks to the following groups:
- Employees (current and former) and their dependents;
- Retirees and beneficiaries;
- Current students; and
- Certain other individuals who participated in the University’s programs
These individuals are being notified between May 12-14, 2021. Please check your email for an activation code to sign up for Experian IdentityWorks. The former universal activation code may no longer be used for new activations.
The University is working to identify the community members whose information was impacted. These investigations take time, and the University is working deliberately to provide accurate information as quickly as it can. Within the next 45 to 60 days, it expects to send appropriate individual notifications through Experian to those whose current contact information is available to the University. These notifications will also include credit monitoring.
Other recommendations include:
- Check your credit report and monitor weekly
- Place a freeze on your credit with all three credit bureaus
- Place a fraud alert on your credit (if you place it with one, they will share with the others)
- Contact your telephone/cell phone carrier to alert them that your data may have been compromised and prevent them from sending your number to another phone
- Alert your bank and ask about fraud alerts and other security measures that can be taken
Even if you think you don’t have anything a cyber thief might want, your identifying information can be used by others to open new credit and bank accounts, sign up for leases or loans, and commit other forms of fraud. It’s important to protect this information as much as possible.
If you learn that you are the victim of identity theft, and you have signed up for the Experian IdentityWorks service, Experian will assist you in restoring your identity.
Cyber-Safety
In addition to the financial concerns this breach has caused, some members of our community may also be concerned about their physical safety. If you are a survivor of current or past stalking or intimate partner violence, and you are concerned about your identifying information being compromised, there are some resources that may be helpful to you:
- If you haven’t already done so, consider signing up for the Experian IdentityWorks service offered by UC. In addition to monitoring any credit activity for you, this service will also conduct internet surveillance on your behalf and notify you if/when any of your information shows up on the internet.
- A confidential CARE advocate may be able to assist survivors in creating individualized safety plans unique to their experience with stalking or intimate partner violence.
- Counseling Services and Academic and Staff Assistance Program are available to UC Davis students and employees for support.
- The Safety Net Project at the National Network to End Domestic Violence, has many resources related to technology safety