Livingston International Inc Data Breach

Founded in 1945, Livingston International is a prominent provider of customs brokerage, trade consulting, and freight forwarding services. Known for its extensive network, experienced personnel, and comprehensive service offerings, it serves a diverse range of industries, including automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, and retail. The company currently has over 3,000 employees located at more than 100 key border points, airports, seaports, and other strategic locations across Europe, North America, and Asia.

Like many global logistics and trade companies, Livingston International handles a significant amount of sensitive information. As a key player in the logistics and supply chain industry, it is also a prime target for cyber threats, ransomware attacks, and other bad-faith actions. Unfortunately, these bad-faith actions culminated in a security breach occurring toward the end of 2022, the company's first major incident of its kind. Breaches of this nature can have profound impacts on Livingston International and its customers, ranging from potential loss of business and dented reputation to exposure of sensitive information and identity theft.

When Was the Livingston International Data Breach?

In April 2023, Livingston International officially notified customers and several Attorneys General Offices of a security breach that affected its systems and impacted customers’ personal information. According to the notification sent to the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office, the company experienced an IT outage on December 5, 2023, associated with a legacy third-party network environment. Two days later, it was discovered that a security breach had caused the outage, and steps were taken to contain the impact of the incident, including decommissioning the affected legacy third-party network environment. 

An investigation of the breach subsequently determined that an unauthorized party had potentially accessed the personal information of current and former Livingston associates (employees and customers) during the incident. The impacted information varied by individual and may include names, addresses, Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and financial account information. 

How to Check If Your Data Was Breached

Livingston International sent out data breach notification letters to all individuals impacted by the 2022 security breach incident; if you did not receive one, it is unlikely that your personal information was affected. Nevertheless, you can contact the company directly to get confirmation on this. Alternatively, you can use platforms like IDStrong to check if your online usernames or passwords have been compromised and determine whether your personal information is leaked or at risk of being exploited by bad-faith actors. 

What to Do If Your Data Was Breached

In light of its 2022 security breach, Livingstone International offered impacted individuals a complimentary 24-month subscription to credit monitoring and identity restoration services. These services include dark web searches that alert users if their personally identifiable information is found online. The company also offered free proactive fraud assistance (for up to 90 days) to help affected customers answer questions concerning identity theft and fraud.

You can also take additional proactive actions on your own if you are affected by a data breach, such as:

• Changing the passwords for all affected accounts 
• Obtaining free copies of your credit report and monitoring them for suspicious activity
• Placing a fraud alert on your accounts 

You should also stay alert for any communications or updates from Livingston International on further actions to take and subsequent security breaches or ransomware attacks (if any), especially if you intend to remain a customer.

Are There Any Lawsuits Because of the Data Breach?

It is pretty common for those affected by data breaches to pursue legal recourse for damages caused by these incidents. However, there are no specific details regarding class-action or individual lawsuits stemming from the Livingston International 2022 security breach, very likely due to the company’s swift and professional handling of the matter. Nevertheless, if you are considering suing, it is advisable to consult a qualified attorney before proceeding.

Can My Livingston International Information Be Used for Identity Theft?

According to Livingston International, its investigations (following the security incident) did not identify any evidence of the affected information being downloaded, misused, or published. Unfortunately, unauthorized access to your personal information during a data breach still puts you at risk of being exploited by bad-faith actors, who can use this information for various forms of fraud and identity theft. 

What Can You Do to Protect Yourself Online?

Companies like Livingston International play a crucial role in global trade by facilitating the efficient movement of goods across borders. However, considering these companies are typically entrusted with sensitive trade information, they are also at risk of data breaches by bad-faith actors looking to access this information. Vigilance in cybersecurity is crucial to mitigate these risks, ensuring data protection and maintaining trust in their extensive customs brokerage and trade consulting services. As a customer, you can also reduce the risks of these data breaches and protect yourself from bad-faith actors by adopting strong cybersecurity practices, such as:

• Create strong, unique passwords that are hard to guess.
• Avoid reusing passwords across multiple accounts.
• Enable two-factor authentication for added security.
• Regularly update your operating system, applications, and antivirus software to protect against vulnerabilities.
• Avoid clicking on suspicious links or email attachments, and verify requests for personal information.
• Monitor your financial and online accounts for unauthorized transactions or changes, and consider using a credit monitoring service.
• Limit the personal information you share online, especially on social media.
• Avoid using public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions, and use a VPN for added security.

Stay informed about the latest cybersecurity threats and best practices by following reputable sources like IDStrong.