Diligent Corporation Files Data Breach Notice

Software-as-a-service is a growing business. It is used by PC gamers worldwide (as subscription-based downloadable video games count as software-as-a-service), and you likely have some sort of it because device monitoring software titles also count. In fact, software-as-a-service has become so popular that hackers use “ransomware-as-a-service” to access people’s devices while also gaining easy access to whatever login and payment credentials the victims use when subscribing. Diligent Corporation is a software-as-a-service provider and has recently had confidential files breached.

How Did the Attack Occur?

The attack occurred when an unauthorized party accessed one of Steele Compliance’s internal systems (Diligent Corporation acquired Steele Compliance in 2021). The breach was discovered two days after its occurrence, which was May 21st, 2022. The hacker was immediately removed from the system, and an investigation was launched. The notice of the breach was sent to the California Attorney General’s Office on February 1st, 2023. Luckily, the company has worked diligently to fix the breach and hinder another (yes, we are very proud of our pun).

What Information Was Viewed or Stolen?

The system the hacker accessed was a human resources department. HR’s files may have included client names, mailing and email addresses, and/or social security numbers. Judging by the inclusion of social security numbers, it seems that employees made up the majority of victims. However, it is unclear if the hacker directly targeted the human resources files or if they only wanted access to any system and managed to land themself there.

How Did Diligent Admit to the Breach?

Diligent Corporation admitted to the breach by sending notices directly to the victims. As is required by law, Diligent sent a copy of the notes sent to victims to the California Attorney General’s Office. The notices read, “Upon learning that the Steele Compliance network was accessed by an unauthorized actor, we promptly took measures to disable non-essential access to the network and contain the event. Work to investigate the event and identify what information was impacted remains ongoing… We also have arranged for you to obtain, at no cost to you, 24 months of credit monitoring services from Experian.”

What Will Become of the Stolen Information?

As with most breaches, the hacker will likely sell the information. Fun fact; the only information necessary to assume someone else’s identity is their birthday, name, and social security number. Therefore, simply having the victims’ names and social security numbers puts them at heightened risk of identity theft. Seeing that the hacker has access to the victims’ home addresses, they could easily search for them and discover their birthdays.

What Should Affected Parties Do in the Aftermath of the Breach?

The victims of any data breach should always accept any offered credit or identity monitoring, as these can be detrimental to their futures. It is also important to monitor your emails for any suspicious activity or messages that may be phishing attempts. Always try to stay as safe as possible; if you can’t be safe, be careful. You are the most important thing!