Massive data breach at federal credit union exposes 240,000 members

SRP revealed in a notice that the data breach was part of a two-month attack by hackers, raising concerns about how it took the company so long to detect unauthorized entry into its systems. I discuss the details of the data breach, its impact on people and what you need to do to stay safe.

The company said it discovered suspicious activity on its network and notified law enforcement. An investigation determined that hackers accessed the credit union's systems between Sept. 5 and Nov. 4, potentially acquiring sensitive files. The investigation concluded on Nov. 22, the company said.

SRP did not specify the exact details exposed in its notice to Maine regulators, saying only that names and government-issued identification were affected in the cyberattack. 

SRP will provide impacted individuals with free-of-charge identity theft protection services, so take advantage of it to safeguard your information.

We reached out to SRP for comment but did not hear back by our deadline.

If you have received a notice from SRP Federal Credit Union about the data breach, consider taking the following steps to protect yourself.

1. Monitor your accounts: Regularly check your bank accounts, credit card statements and other financial accounts for any unauthorized transactions or suspicious activity. Contact one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian or TransUnion) to place a fraud alert on your credit report, making it harder for identity thieves to open accounts in your name.

2. Freeze your credit: Consider freezing your credit to prevent new accounts from being opened without your consent. This service is free and can be lifted at any time.

5. Beware of phishing scams: Be cautious of emails, texts or calls claiming to be from SRP or related organizations. Avoid clicking on links or providing personal information unless you verify the sender.

The SRP Federal Credit Union data breach is a harsh reminder of how vulnerable our sensitive information can be. Over 240,000 individuals had their personal data compromised, including Social Security numbers, driver's licenses and financial details. Even more alarming is the two-month window hackers had to exploit the credit union's systems before being detected. This highlights significant gaps in cybersecurity protocols. If you're an SRP customer, monitor your accounts closely, enable fraud alerts and consider identity theft protection services to stay ahead of potential threats.

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