The Metropolitan Opera House Gets Hit Be a Breach, Exposing 45,000 Patrons
Table of Contents
- By Steven
- Published: May 10, 2023
- Last Updated: May 10, 2023
The Metropolitan Opera is a well-established opera house that opened its doors in 1883 and has been putting on dozens of operas each year. The Met is an impressive establishment that employs more than 900 individuals, and it stores a substantial amount of customer data during its regular operations. This well-known opera house recently got hit by a data breach that puts its customers in real danger. The breach was reported to the Maine Attorney General, and it's estimated that more than 45,000 customers had data leaked because of it.
How Did the Attack Occur?
The Metropolitan Opera just reported that it was hit by a serious data breach. This breach first occurred back at the end of September 2022, and the problem persisted until December 6, 2022. Throughout that time, users were able to hack into the file networks of the opera and steal a substantial amount of consumer data held for things like purchases and memberships. This information could put thousands of people at risk for fraudulent attacks. We don't know how the attack was possible, but it could have been achieved through a security hole in the data network or by way of a phishing attack through email.
What Information Was Viewed or Stolen?
During this Metropolitan Opera breach, consumer information was stolen. Among the stolen information, details such as first and last names, tax ID numbers, Social Security numbers, payment card data, driver's license numbers, and more were taken. All these details could be used for identity theft purposes, and consumers that work with Opera could be negatively impacted because of this breach. More than 45,000 people are believed to have been exposed.
How Did the Metropolitan Opera Admit to the Breach?
The opera filed a notice with the Maine Attorney General on May 3, 2023. The notice explains the potential data leaked in the breach as well as who might be impacted by the breach. The opera house is also sending out personal letters to everyone that's believed to be involved. If the investigation points to you being exposed to this data breach, you will likely receive a notice and can respond appropriately.
What Will Become of the Stolen Information?
The stolen data is likely to be used for phishing attacks and for identity theft. It's probable that this data will be leveraged for profit as much as possible. The information could be used to open fraudulent accounts and to complete purchases without the user's consent.
What Should Affected Parties Do in the Aftermath of the Breach?
If you had data stored with the opera, you will receive a personal notice in the mail informing you of such. If you get a notice, you should immediately begin monitoring your credit for strange occurrences. The breach could cause serious financial issues for you, and you may want to put a freeze on your credit or replace any cards on file with the Metropolitan Opera. If you make these changes, you can effectively protect yourself from future attacks.
