MARLTON, N.J. - Feb. 2, 2022 - PRLog -- Console & Associates, P.C. is currently looking into whether those consumers affected by a recent data breach at Unum Group have any legal recourse against the company. If an investigation uncovers evidence that Unum Group negligently maintained consumer data, despite the prevalence of widespread cyberthreats, the company may be held liable for any resulting damages through a data breach class action lawsuit.

The Unum Group data breach is only one recent example of the many security breaches that have occurred over the past few months, as hackers and other cybercriminals continue to prey on companies with vulnerable data-security systems. Of course, companies whose computers are hacked are not the only victims in a data breach – the most serious harms can fall upon the individual consumer.

There are many potential causes of a data breach. Often, these cyberattacks start with a hacking event, malware attack, phishing scam or other attack designed to bypass a network's security system. While the hacker who orchestrates a cyber-attack is the only one who knows their true intentions, these events are frequently intended to obtain consumer data that can later be used to commit identity theft.

News of the Unum Group data breach only recently broke, and more details are expected in the coming weeks. However, the situation raises legitimate concerns about the company's efforts to keep consumer data secure.

Attorney Richard P. Console explains,

"When consumers do business with a company or provide their personal information to an organization, they assume that it will remain private. And, after a data breach, it's natural to assign all blame to the hacker or other criminal party responsible for orchestrating the cyberattack. However, this overlooks the obligations that organizations owe to consumers. It isn't just about "good business"; organizations also assume a legal duty when they hold a consumer's information. This duty requires companies to implement data security measures that adequately protect consumer information from various cyberthreats. While developing a robust data security system requires a significant amount of capital and effort, it is a necessary cost of doing business that all organizations must take seriously in an environment in which the threat of cyberattacks is ever-present."

News of the Unum data breach just broke, and details are sparse. However, according to one source, on November 23, 2021, Unum Group first discovered the breach. Through a subsequent investigation, the company determined that the breach exposed consumer data between the dates of October 28, 2021 and November 15, 2021. While the investigation into this data security incident is still ongoing, the company confirmed that the data breach resulted in the names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and health insurance information of affected consumers being compromised. On January 28, 2022, Unum Group began sending out data breach notification letters to affected parties.

Those receiving an Unum Group data breach letter should take the following steps to protect themselves:

1. Carefully review the letter sent by Unum Group;
2. Retain a copy of the data breach notification letter;
3. Enroll in the free credit monitoring service provided by Unum Group;
4. Change all passwords and security questions to online accounts;
5. Enable two-factor or multi-factor authentication, where it is available;
6. Frequently review all credit card and bank account statements for any signs of fraud or unauthorized activity;
7. Monitor credit reports for any unexpected changes or signs of identity theft;
8. Contact a credit bureau to request a temporary fraud alert; and
9. Notify all banks and credit card companies of the data breach.