Recently, BlueForce, Inc. announced a data breach that compromised the personal information of certain individuals. On April 20, 2022, BlueForce sent out data breach letters to all parties whose information was leaked as a result of the breach.

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 BlueForce data breach, please see our recent piece on the topic here.

What We Know So Far About the BlueForce, Inc. Data Breach

News of the BlueForce breach is still developing, as the company only recently began disclosing details about the incident. However, based on an April 20, 2022 letter, on May 4, 2021, BlueForce, Inc. experienced a disruption in some of its computer systems. In response, the company enlisted the assistance of outside third-party cybersecurity consultants and began looking into the incident. This investigation confirmed that the unauthorized parties who orchestrated the cyberattack had access to certain files on the BlueForce network on May 4, 2022. Subsequently, on April 20, 2022, the company sent data breach letters to all affected individuals. While BlueForce’s letter doesn’t disclose any additional details about the breach, some news outlets report that the Conti Ransomware Gang claims responsibility for the cyberattack.

BlueForce, Inc. is a defense contractor that provides a range of professional services to government and private-sector clients. Some of the services offered by BlueForce include program/project management, stability operations, civil-military relations, risk management, strategic communications, course & curriculum development, and technical training. BlueForce is based in Hampton, Virginia, and was founded in 2003. The company employs about 263 people and brings in more than $52 million in annual revenue.

Should You Be Concerned if You Receive a BlueForce Data Breach Letter?

Data breaches are becoming increasingly common. So much so, in fact, that hardly a day goes by without a major company experiencing some type of data security incident. Data breaches such as the one recently announced by BlueForce, Inc. place the personal information of consumers in the hands of cybercriminals. What hackers do with consumer data obtained through a data breach varies based on the nature of the data and the goals of the party or organization orchestrating the attack.

As noted above, there is at least some indication that the cyberattack BlueForce was referring to was a ransomware attack. In a traditional ransomware attack, hackers place malicious software on a victim’s computer or network, which encrypts some or all of the victim’s data. When the victim attempts to log in, they are met with a message. The message demands some type of ransom, usually money. The idea behind a ransomware attack is that the victim needs access to their device or network and will pay to regain access.

However, in more recent years, cybercriminals have taken their ransomware attacks to the next level by threatening to publish data obtained from the compromised network, usually on the Dark Web. Once information is posted on the Dark Web, it is accessible to millions of people, few of which have honest intentions. This exponentially increases the risk of fraud or identity theft.

Given the risks that come along with a data breach, it is imperative for those who receive a BlueForce, Inc. data breach letter to take the necessary steps to protect themselves. Additionally, data breach victims may also be able to pursue a data breach class action lawsuit against a company if it was negligent in how it maintained the victims’ data. Those with questions about what to do after a data breach or what their legal options are should reach out to a data breach lawyer for assistance.