Lower Llc. Suffers Massive Data Breach
Table of Contents
- By Steven
- Published: Oct 14, 2022
- Last Updated: Oct 14, 2022
Lower Llc. has been described by C.B. Insights as a “homeownership ecosystem that provides consumers with everything they need to buy a home.” Headquartered in New Albany, Ohio, customers and critics alike have sung its praises for years. With the breach, those songs could be changing real soon.
How Did the Attack Occur?
The type of cyberattack has not yet been disclosed at the time of writing. However, the investigation Lower posed did unearth suspicious activity in an employee email months before the breach’s discovery. The company released a statement, saying, “Our commitment to cyber security is a top priority for Lower and we are continuously identifying opportunities to enhance our measures.”
What Information Was Viewed or Stolen?
All Lower disclosed was that names, social security numbers, financial information, dates of birth, and driver’s license numbers had found their way into the breach. This leaves many of Lower’s customer base in jeopardy; 85,958 customers exactly. These people are left wondering if their information is in the hands of the bad actor or actors. With something as simple as a social security number, an identity thief can overtake your mind, bank, and life in a short time.
How Did Lower Admit to the Breach?
In July 2022, Lower notified state attorney general offices, alerting them to the breach and how many people were affected. They told the offices that almost 86,000 consumers were affected by the breach. It also said that the company would provide free credit monitoring for twelve months for anyone affected by the breach. With all the recent breaches, leaks, and hacks, Experian has been making tons of money from companies covering customers’ credit monitoring.
What Will Become of the Stolen Information?
With stolen information, there is a lot that unauthorized parties can do. They can steal things like paychecks and 401Ks, open leases and cards in the victim’s name, and ruin the affected individual’s credit for the foreseeable future. Identity theft is a dangerous thing that, luckily, has been coming more into light because of things like movies and social media. Before these things, it was far easier to steal identities; go to a new place and say you’re someone else. Something as simple as using a different name was an easy way to become someone else and never have to fear recognition. Things were easier back then for criminals.
What Should Affected Parties Do in the Aftermath of the Breach?
In the aftermath of the breach, taking Lower up on its Experian offer is a wise way to get started. Another smart thing to do would be to invest in device monitoring software to alert you to malware or ransomware. Certain types of software will also alert you if your information is somewhere you don’t want it, including places like the dark web. Make sure to monitor your credit cards, too. The last thing you want is to go to buy your groceries and for your card to bounce.
