Clackamas Community College Data Breach

What Happened?

On January 19, 2024, Clackamas Community College detected unusual activity on its computer systems. An investigation revealed that an unauthorized party had gained access to the college's network, encrypting files and potentially copying sensitive data from the servers. Upon discovery, the college took immediate action by isolating the network, taking systems offline, and disabling user access to prevent further spread of the malicious activity. With assistance from federal law enforcement and cybersecurity experts, the college determined that the compromised files included personal information such as Social Security Numbers.

The breach was discovered on February 29, 2024, and the college has since been working diligently to address the situation. Clackamas Community College has a strong commitment to privacy and is taking this incident very seriously. They have notified affected individuals and are offering identity theft protection services through IDX, A ZeroFox Company.

For more details on the breach and the college's response, please refer to the official disclosure on the Maine Attorney General's website and the Massachusetts Attorney General's website.

A total of 8,797 individuals in the United States have been affected by this breach, with 3 of those being from the state of Maine. On April 1, 2024, Clackamas Community College began notifying consumers through written notices, providing details of the incident and guidance on protective measures.

Notice to Consumers

The written notice sent to consumers includes an explanation of the incident, the types of information involved, and the steps the college is taking in response. Clackamas Community College has activated its incident response plan, notified federal law enforcement, and is cooperating with their investigation. The college is also reviewing additional security measures to prevent future incidents.

To assist those affected, the college is offering 12 months of complimentary credit and CyberScan monitoring, a $1,000,000 insurance reimbursement policy, and fully managed identity theft recovery services through IDX. Consumers are urged to enroll in these services by July 1, 2024, using the provided enrollment code and either scanning the QR code, calling 1-888-451-6405, or visiting IDX's response page.

Steps to Take

If you believe you have been affected by this data breach, it is recommended that you:

• Enroll in the complimentary credit monitoring services offered by Clackamas Community College.
• Monitor your financial accounts closely for any suspicious activity.
• Obtain a free copy of your credit report from each of the three national credit reporting agencies by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com or calling 1-877-322-8228.
• Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze on your credit reports for added protection.

For further assistance, a dedicated call center is available at 1-888-451-6405 from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Pacific, Monday through Friday.

Additional Resources

For more information on how to protect yourself from identity theft and what to do if you suspect fraudulent activity, please visit the Federal Trade Commission's identity theft website or call 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338).

Clackamas Community College deeply regrets any inconvenience or concern this incident may have caused and remains committed to safeguarding the personal information of its community. For more information about Clackamas Community College, please visit their official website.