Think about this—you access your insurance portal to pay a bill, but instead you find out hackers have stolen information from 1.1 million Farmers Insurance customers. Terrifying, right?
While we expect big companies to have better protection of our data, here we are again. Let’s explore what happened, what role Salesforce played, and what this means for us.
What information got released? Here’s the breakdown:
• Names
• Addresses
• Birth dates
• Policy details
The good news, hackers did not get Social Security numbers or any bank information. But still, would you want people you don’t know to have your complete information? Me neither.
If hackers gain access to Salesforce, they do not just affect one company, they can steal from many companies at once. Think of it this way: one key opens many doors in any building.
If you are a Farmers client, here's what you should do:
• Change Your Passwords Now
• Be careful with emails (don't click any obtained links you aren't familiar with)
• You should set fraud alerts on your bank or card accounts
Have ever received an email that looked real but seemed "off" which is precisely what type of scams you'll see more of after a breach like this.
This can happen to any organization; hence our personal data can never be guaranteed 100% safe.
So be vigilant—secure your accounts, read your emails thoroughly, and decide when to trust an email; because in today’s world, it is not if the next hack will happen, it is when.
What are your thoughts—are organizations doing enough to promote an honest statement about how secure (or insecure) our data really is?
While we expect big companies to have better protection of our data, here we are again. Let’s explore what happened, what role Salesforce played, and what this means for us.
What Happened?
Farmers Insurance stated that a cyberattack occurred where hackers were able to access Salesforce and published customer information. This is more than just an oversight, this was a cyberattack.What information got released? Here’s the breakdown:
• Names
• Addresses
• Birth dates
• Policy details
The good news, hackers did not get Social Security numbers or any bank information. But still, would you want people you don’t know to have your complete information? Me neither.
Why Salesforce?
You are probably asking yourself, why is Salesforce always in the news for hacks? Here’s the answer: Salesforce is a huge online platform that keeps customer information, including policy documentation, for many companies.If hackers gain access to Salesforce, they do not just affect one company, they can steal from many companies at once. Think of it this way: one key opens many doors in any building.
What this means for customers
Now, 1.1 million individuals are at risk for things such as: scam phone calls, scam emails, and identity theft. This is because hackers use that stolen information as part of their scams.If you are a Farmers client, here's what you should do:
• Change Your Passwords Now
• Be careful with emails (don't click any obtained links you aren't familiar with)
• You should set fraud alerts on your bank or card accounts
Have ever received an email that looked real but seemed "off" which is precisely what type of scams you'll see more of after a breach like this.
My Thoughts
I'll be honest it's annoying. Farmers and Salesforce seems to make a lot of money sitting on security holes. They will probably provide free monitoring and what does that really do for you? Nothing.This can happen to any organization; hence our personal data can never be guaranteed 100% safe.
In Conclusion
The Farmers Insurance breach highlights one very important point; no one is immune from failing at security, even the big telecommunication firms. If Salesforce gets hacked, everyone is vulnerable.So be vigilant—secure your accounts, read your emails thoroughly, and decide when to trust an email; because in today’s world, it is not if the next hack will happen, it is when.
What are your thoughts—are organizations doing enough to promote an honest statement about how secure (or insecure) our data really is?