Lakeland Community College Data Breach Investigation
The Lyon Firm is representing victims of the Lakeland Community College data breach that may have impacted over 285,000 individuals. Anyone who receives notice that their personal information may have been compromised in the cyberattack should contact a data privacy lawyer to learn more about data theft incidents and to consider filing a data breach class action claim.
Lakeland Community College notes on their website that personal, financial and health information could be at risk. They did not provide full details of the attack, but said it occurred between March 7 and March 31, 2023. The data potentially leaked includes the following:
- Names
- Social Security numbers
- Dates of birth
- Driver’s license numbers
- Financial account information
- Credit or debit card information
- Passport numbers
- Medical information
- Health insurance information
The college suggests signing up for credit monitoring services, placing a fraud alert/security freeze on credit files, obtaining free credit reports, and remaining vigilant for fraudulent activity.
Lakeland Community College, based in Kirtland, Ohio, operates a health clinic on campus, which makes it even more of a target, as medical data can be quite valuable on the black market.
Security experts say the education sector is an increasingly likely target for cybercriminals, not merely because of the vast amount of data stored on networks but because many colleges and universities have outdated IT security, making them easy targets. The Department of Education has released guidance documents outlining measures to properly protect educational infrastructure and student data.
As of September 21, the Lakeland Community College data security incident was not posted on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights’ HIPAA Breach Reporting Tool website listing health data breaches affecting 500 or more individuals, but was reported to at least one Attorney General.
The Lyon Firm is currently involved in dozens of data security cases in Ohio and nationwide. We offer consultations and can assist data theft victims in filing claims and reaching a fast and painless settlement. Contact our legal team to learn more about the Lakeland breach and whether or not you qualify to file a class action lawsuit.