The internet provider is now facing three class action lawsuits following a large data breach.
What happened
The Dallas, Texas-based optic-fiber internet provider operates in at least 25 states across the United States and earned $5.75 billion in 2023.
On April 14th, 2024, Frontier Communications was impacted by a data breach against its network, resulting in several systems being turned off and operational disruptions.
Going deeper
According to a notice to the Maine Attorney General, the breach took place on April 13th and was discovered the following day.
Approximately 751,895 individuals were impacted. Information accessed included personal identifying information such as names, addresses, and Social Security numbers. Frontier Communications did not provide a definitive list of impacted information and said it varied by person.
As soon as the breach was discovered, the company initiated its cyber incident response protocol, which called for shutting down some systems. Frontier’s mobile app and website were impacted and displayed a warning message.
Customers also experienced downtime when attempting to access the internet or reaching human customer service. Frontier Communications, however, denies that customers’ internet service was impacted.
Frontier Communications attributed the breach to an unknown cybercrime group, classifying the event as an external system breach/hacking.
The company began sending notices to impacted individuals in early June and is offering free credit monitoring and identity theft resolution services.
What’s new
Now, Frontier Communications has become the target of 3 class action lawsuits. All lawsuits were filed in the Northern District of Texas.
The suits allege that Frontier was negligent and reckless in maintaining and safeguarding its computer systems and data. One lawsuit even stated that “Frontier knew or should have known that its electronic records would be targeted by cybercriminals.”
The plaintiffs argue that this breach may make them more susceptible to identity theft in the future.
The big picture
Lawsuits like these are becoming increasingly common in response to data breaches and serve as another incentive for companies to carefully monitor their data and prioritize security.
With an increasing number of data breaches, even a minor breach can have frustrating consequences for victims. As more breaches occur, it’s more likely for an individual to be victimized in multiple breaches, allowing criminals to aggregate data and successfully steal identities or commit other crimes.
Cybercrime is a flourishing industry, but with the right technology, every company is capable of preventing attacks and thriving despite the challenging threat landscape.
Read more: HIPAA Compliant Email: The Definitive Guide
Abby Grifno
