Recently, Guardian Fueling Technologies confirmed that the company experienced a data breach after an unauthorized party gained access to sensitive consumer data contained on the company’s computer network. According to the Guardian, the breach resulted in the names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and driver’s license numbers of affected individuals being compromised. On June 16, 2022, Guardian 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 Guardian Fueling data breach, please see our recent piece on the topic here.

Details About the Guardian Fueling Data Breach

According to an official notice filed by the company, on April 20, 2022, Guardian Fueling detected suspicious activity on its computer network. In response, Guardian secured its network and began working with third-party forensic specialists to investigate the incident as well as its impact on the consumer data contained on the company’s servers.

On May 19, 2022, the company’s investigation confirmed that an unauthorized party was able to access certain files on the Guardian network, as well as the sensitive consumer data contained within those files.

Guardian Fueling then reviewed the affected files to determine exactly what information was compromised. While the breached information varies depending on the individual, it may include your name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, and driver’s license number.

On June 16, 2022, Guardian Fueling sent out data breach letters to all individuals whose information was compromised as a result of the recent data security incident.

More About Guardian Fueling Technologies

Guardian Fueling Technologies is a petroleum equipment distribution company based in Jacksonville, Florida. Guardian provides a range of services to service stations, including 24/7 factory-authorized service; EMV and PCI compliance expertise; petroleum equipment distribution; installation and removal of fueling systems; and remote connectivity performance and maintenance monitoring. Guardian Fueling employs more than 734 people and generates approximately $141 million in annual revenue.

Are Companies Responsible for Data Breaches?

A data breach occurs when a hacker or some other bad actor intentionally bypasses a company’s data security system, successfully accessing consumer data. When it comes to determining liability after a data breach, there are a few parties that bear responsibility. Clearly, the hacker or group of hackers that orchestrated the attack are responsible. However, locating a cybercriminal in the wake of a data breach is challenging. And even if you can find them, it may not be worth pursuing a claim against them because they may not have the assets needed to satisfy a judgment against them in the event you are successful.

However, the company that was the “victim” of the data may also be responsible. Under U.S. data breach laws, companies and organizations that store consumer data have a legal obligation to keep this data safe. Organizations that negligently maintain consumer data may be held financially liable after a breach.

A few examples of how a company may be negligent leading up to a data breach include:

• A company employee does not follow the appropriate procedures when handling consumer data;

• A business fails to implement an adequate data security system or relies on an outdated system;

• A company inadvertently transmits consumer information to an unauthorized party; or

• An employee provides their login credential or consumer information to an unauthorized party following a phishing attempt.

While state and federal laws allow data breach victims to hold negligent companies accountable after a data breach, these claims are complex. Thus, anyone interested in learning more about data breach claims should consult with a data breach lawyer for assistance.