In recent data breach news, ADM Associates, Inc. confirmed that the company experienced a data breach after an unauthorized party gained access to the company’s computer network. According to the ADM, the breach resulted in the names and other sensitive data types being compromised. Subsequently, ADM filed official notice of the breach and sent out data breach letters to all affected parties.
If you received a data breach notification, it is essential you understand what is at risk and what you can do about it. To learn more about how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft and what your legal options are in the wake of the ADM Associates data breach, please see our recent piece on the topic here.
Additional Details of the ADM Associates Data Breach
According to an official notice filed by the company, on September 13, 2021, ADM learned of a cyber event that impacted its internal IT systems. In response, the company launched an investigation into the incident hoping to learn more about its causes and whether any sensitive consumer data was leaked as a result. This investigation confirmed that certain consumer data was accessible to and may have been acquired by an unauthorized person between August 25, 2021 and September 15, 2021.
Upon discovering that sensitive consumer data was accessible to an unauthorized party, ADM Associates then reviewed the affected files to determine exactly what information was compromised. The company completed this review in March 2022. More recently, ADM Associates sent out data breach letters to all individuals whose information was compromised as a result of the recent data security incident.
What Does ADM Associates, Inc. Do?
ADM Associates, Inc. is an energy evaluation firm based in Reno, Nevada. The company consists of engineers, social science researchers, and analysts who develop energy research and program evaluation strategies. Some of the services ADM provides include: behavioral program evaluation; concurrent evaluation; data science; demand response program evaluation; emerging technology evaluation; energy efficiency program evaluation; monitoring and measurement; planning and regulatory support; and process evaluation. ADM Associates employs more than 78 people and generates approximately $15 million in annual revenue.
What Consumers Can Do to Protect Themselves After a Data Breach
If you receive a data breach notification in the mail from ADM , it means your information was available to an unauthorized party who quite possibly had criminal intentions. While we don’t yet know the exact data types leaked in the ADM data breach, it is highly likely that the incident resulted in either financial information or Social Security numbers being leaked. Given the risk of identity theft and other types of fraud that follow in the wake of a data breach, it is important you remain vigilant by taking the following steps to protect yourself:
Find Out What Information Was Leaked: ADM Associates hasn’t publicly disclosed the types of data that were leaked in the recent breach. However, the company included this information in the data breach notifications it sent to affected individuals. If you received a letter from ADM, carefully review it to determine what information was leaked.
Stop All Future Access to Your Accounts: Once you determine the scope of the information compromised in the breach, next, you should limit cybercriminals ability to access your credit and financial accounts. Most importantly, this includes changing all passwords and security questions for your online accounts. You should also set up multi-factor authentication on those sites where it is available.
Take Advantage of Free Credit Monitoring: After a company reports a data breach, it usually provides free credit monitoring to all victims of the breach. In the ADM data breach notification letter, the company notes that it is paying for one year of free credit monitoring for anyone affected by the data breach. This is not a gimmick, and you will not give up any rights by signing up for free credit monitoring.
Regularly Monitor Your Credit Report and Financial Accounts: Initially, you should contact one of the three main credit bureaus to request a copy of your credit report. Even if you do not notice any signs of fraud or unauthorized activity, it is a good idea to request a fraud alert be added to your profile. Fraud alerts are free and serve as a red flag to potential lenders and creditors that your information was compromised in a data breach. However, keep in mind that protecting yourself in the wake of a data breach is not a one-time task. To ensure your accounts remain fraud-free, you should continually monitor your credit report and all financial accounts. When reviewing your accounts, look out for any signs of unauthorized activity or fraud.
A Credit Freeze Offers Additional Protection: For those looking for an added layer of protection, a credit freeze is a good option. A credit freeze prevents all access to your credit report unless you specifically authorize it. Credit freezes are free and remain in place until you remove them; however, you can allow a company to make a pre-approved, one-time credit-pull. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center (“ITRC”), adding a credit freeze is the “single most effective way to prevent a new credit/financial account from being opened.”
Falling victim to a data breach is a stressful situation that few people are prepared for. If you have additional questions about your rights in the wake of the ADM breach, reach out to a data breach lawyer for immediate assistance.
