NEXT Financial Data Breach

Next Financial Group Inc. (NFG) is an investment and financial advisory servicer. They are an independent firm funded by and created for financial professionals; their $1.5 billion stock portfolio signals their undeniable success. Unfortunately, such success rarely goes unnoticed on the internet. NFG has announced a recent data breach.

What Was the Breach?

• Full Name
• Date of Birth
• Driver’s License
• State ID Number
• Social Security Number
• Government-Issued IDs
• Employer-Assigned IDs
• Financial Account Information
• Credit/Debit Card Numbers and PINs

How Did the Breach Occur?

The Notice of Data Breach supplied to the Maine Attorney General’s office has limited information about the cyber event. The attack came after an unauthorized party accessed NFG systems via an NFG professional’s computer that housed client information. At the moment, no other breach details are public.

When Did This Breach Occur?

According to the notice, the breach happened on or around May 10th, 2023; no other dates appear within the consumer letter. The Maine filing, however, lists the breach discovery date as on or around October 23rd, with consumer notices sent on November 6th.

Who Does the Breach Impact?

Investigations are ongoing, but the consumer notice implies the assailants may have accessed client data during the breach. Further, the Maine filing suggests over 1,000 people may feel the attack’s impact. This number may rise as internal investigations proceed.

How Many Files Does the Breach Affect?

The total number of files accessed during this breach is not yet public if it is known. NFG clients don’t need to wait for the consumer’s notice to start taking preventative action. They must consider monitoring services and watch their accounts closely for strange activity.