Golden Corral restaurant company has acknowledged that it experienced a data breach in August of last year, during which hackers acquired the personal information of about 180,000 beneficiaries and past and present workers.
On or around August 15, 2023, Golden Corral ran into a data security issue that briefly disrupted business operations. To identify the issue's precise nature and scope and restore the affected computer systems to operation, Golden Corral moved swiftly and initiated an investigation.
During the investigation, Golden Corral learned that from August 11, 2023, to August 15, 2023, someone without permission may have accessed corporate networks and may have viewed or obtained certain company information.
(Photo: THOMAS SAMSON/AFP via Getty Images) An agent of the operational center of the French National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI) checks data on a computer in Paris on November 24, 2022.
Although the number of persons affected by this data breach is not disclosed in Golden Corral's press release, the company disclosed in a filing with Maine's Attorney General that 183,272 people, including 3 Maine residents, had their data stolen in the data breach incident.
Golden Corral started informing relevant parties and possibly affected individuals on February 16, 2024. Although Golden Corral is not aware of any misuse of personal information affected by this event, people were advised by the restaurant chain to monitor account statements and benefit explanations for any unexpected activity as a precaution against identity theft situations.
Related Article: Major Cyberattack on UnitedHealth Disrupts Prescription Drug Orders Across Thousands of US Pharmacies
Golden Corral's Cybersecurity Measures
Golden Corral acted swiftly after learning of the incident to look into it, respond to it, evaluate the security of Golden Corral systems, and locate any possible victims. Golden Corral also reported the incident to federal law enforcement. Golden Corral is also putting other security measures in place.
Along with these measures, Golden Corral stated it is offering 24 months of credit monitoring services through Experian to people whose this issue may have impacted personal information, but at no additional expense to the impacted people. Affected individuals are asked to enroll in the credit monitoring services by April 30, 2024.
Golden Corral is also reportedly offering affected individuals advice on how to strengthen their defenses against fraud and identity theft.
Continued Rise of Data Breaches
Golden Corral's disclosure of the data leak follows many cyberattacks on other critical infrastructures, such as healthcare facilities. A security breach occurred at Change Healthcare, a UnitedHealth subsidiary, on February 21, 2024. Ben Teicher, representative for the American Hospital Association (AHA), asserts that the hack is still to blame for pharmaceutical order delays.
In addition to difficulties with invoicing patients, managing insurance claims, and verifying that patients are covered by insurance for the care they receive, hospitals may also experience difficulties paying employees and making purchases of supplies and prescription medications as a result of the attack.
Ransomware assaults have significantly grown recently, according to cybersecurity experts. This one follows an attack on a Chicago children's hospital last month that forced the institution to take its email, phone, and medical record systems offline.
Related Article: MGM Resorts Cyberattack: State and Federal Regulators Launch Probe $100 Million Data Breach
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